Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award

About the Award

2018 Courage Award Winner Sophia Pecjak. A student athlete and soccer player at Lake Catholic High School, Sophia made a miraculous comeback after an infection caused her heart to stop beating.

Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award is an honor given annually by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Sports Health at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards banquet each January.

It is awarded to a student athlete who has faced a medical challenge in his or her life and approached the situation with courage and determination to get back into the game.

2019 Courage Award

If you know a student athlete who has overcome a medical challenge in his or her life and would like to submit them for the 2019 Courage Award nominate them today.

Nominate a Student Athlete

Nominate a Student Athlete

Submissions must be received by Friday, September 13, 2019.

Review the Sports Health Courage Award Criteria

*Indicates required information.

Nominators Name

Nominators Email

Nominators Phone number

Relationship to Nominee

Nominee Name

Nominee Contact Name (parent/guardian, if under 18)

Nominee Contact email address (parent/guardian, if under 18)

School (attending or attended)

Please describe how this student athlete has portrayed courage to overcome their personal obstacles

What was the nominees involvement in sports before the diagnosis/incident

What was the condition/injury

Describe the treatment/procedure/rehabilitation

How did the injury/condition effect his/her quality of life or participation in sports?

What resources did the nominee use to overcome the challenge; family, friends, team, prayer

What gave him/her inspiration/motivation to keep going

Status after treatment/procedure; return to sports

How did the nominee react to the diagnosis/injury

Future plans for the nominee

Patient Stories

A Quick Save Protects Hockey Player with Heart Syndrome

Jun 4, 2018

“Dr. Aziz reassured us that everything would be fine and that Patrick would be the same active boy he had always been.”

Read Story

Heart of an Olympian

Feb 10, 2017

“Her courage and determination during her recovery left no doubt that she had the heart of a fighter. In fact, the heart of an Olympian.”

Read Story

Getting Back On The Ice

Jan 25, 2016

“I wouldn't be this far if I didn't get the help from my therapists and my doctors at Cleveland Clinic's Children's Rehabilitation Hospital. They supported me and wouldn't let me give up. They helped me learn to use everything all over again. They helped me get through the tough times and kept me fighting."

Read Story