Courtney Conlogue named Team USA “Best of October” Award Finalist

​San Clemente, California (November 2, 2018) – The United States Olympic Committee named Courtney Conlogue a finalist for the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of October, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes last month. Conlogue is on a comeback tear after being sidelined by a serious foot injury in the first half of the year. She has earned two World Surf League titles in just over two months, moving her to No. 8 in the world.
 
Fans are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through midnight Tuesday, Nov. 6. Conlogue is the only surfer to make it to the finalist stage.
 
After Conlogue’s Oct. 12 Roxy Pro France win, USA Surfing CEO Greg Cruse wanted to recognize her comeback form and determination. “Courtney Conlogue is a tenacious athlete and extraordinary representative for the sport of surfing. Her Roxy Pro France victory is the latest example of her relentless fight back up to the top following a serious injury. This is an exciting moment for surfing as it prepares to make its 2020 Olympic debut,” Cruse said.  
 
“We are beyond stoked to nominate Courtney,” USA Surfing President Andrea Swayne said. 
“She is clearly determined to achieve her goals of winning a WSL World Championship title and making the USA Surfing Olympic team. USA Surfing is calling on all surf fans to cast their vote for Courtney at TeamUSA.org/Awards and spread the word to rally more votes.” 
 
The finalist announcement and voting round comes during the VISSLA International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, where Conlogue has a huge base of fans and supporters. Conlogue was the youngest athlete to compete in ISA events at just 11 years old. 
 
This is Conlogue’s second trip to the Team USA “Best Of” finalist round. She was a “best of” finalist in August for her Vans Pro win, along with the winner and gymnast Simone Biles.  
 
The Team USA “best of” distinction is shared with athletes who are top in their sports. Team USA’s press release states: “The finalists’ collective accomplishments tell the inspiring story of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes year-round.”
 
In an interview at USA Surfing Championships on The Surf Channel, Conlogue said she can’t wait to see surfers walking in the parade of nations with the five rings on Team USA’s uniforms. “The Olympics for me is just such an amazing experience where so many sports are just respected,” Conlogue said. “I think it is just such a great thing for surfing. Whether you believe it is a lifestyle or a sport – I came into it as a lifestyle and I love it as a sport. It is such a beautiful sport to watch and I think it is important to share it on the Olympic stage.” 
 
According to the USOC’s press release, the selection process is based on a mix of votes: “Each National Governing Body may nominate one female, one male and one team per sport discipline. An internal nominating committee selects finalists to advance to the voting round. Votes received from NGB representatives and select members of the media account for 50 percent of the final tally, with the other half determined by online fan voting via TeamUSA.org/Awards.”
 
A total of 10 sports – including archery, beach volleyball, figure skating, rugby sevens, surfing, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, weightlifting and wrestling – are represented among this month’s 13 finalists in men’s, women’s and team categories. In addition to Dow, the presenting sponsor, the Team USA Awards are supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods and USG.
 
Contact: Becky Fleischauer, 302-588-0671, becky (at) usasurfing (dot) org