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Steve Serio Wins ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete with a Disability

By Taylor Bond NWBA, 07/12/17, 8:15PM CDT

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Team USA’s Steve Serio has won the ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete with a Disability at the 25th Annual ESPY Awards on ABC. This was the first time that Serio has been nominated and the first time a wheelchair basketball athlete has won the prestigious award. Serio’s teammate Matt Scott was an ESPY Award finalist in 2008.

Serio was nominated for this category after a leading Team USA to the gold medal at the Rio Paralympics last summer. The Rio Games was Serio’s third appearance in the Paralympics and his first gold medal. Not only his first personal gold medal but the U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team’s first gold medal since 1988. Serio served as the team’s co-captain and scored an outstanding 43 points in the last three games along with 23 rebounds and 30 assists.

It was a hard fought feat to bring the gold back to U.S. and it paid off by being nominated for such an award. Having the gold back in U.S. meant a lot to this hard working co –captain and now ESPY award winner. “I was surprised to even get nominated for this award, let alone win my category. It is truly a representation of our sport and the accomplishments we made in Rio,” said Serio.

Serio, a three-time U.S. Paralympian, has been in Los Angeles preparing for the awards show and red carpet appearances since Tuesday, alongside his brother, Luke.

Serio’s category included other top Paralympic Athletes Will Groulx, Mike Minor, Brad Snyder and Roderick Townsend all whom competed at the 2016 Paralympic Games. Last year’s winner of this award went to sprinter Richard Browne but 2017 was Steve Serio’s year for the victory on the court.

Serio commented directly after receiving his award, “It’s truly humbling to win this award. I would like to thank my family and friends back home and to everyone who voted this year. Also a very special thanks to my teammates from Rio and this award is a direct reflection of all of our hard work, dedication, and sacrifices.”

The NWBA congratulates and salutes Steve Serio on quite an honor of being recognized as the Best Male Athlete with a Disability at the 25th Annual ESPY Awards.