If you’re still searching for a New Year’s resolution, here’s one you can knock out in the first month of 2019.
The gold medal-winning U.S. men’s national team is one of 25 nominees for The World Games Athlete of the Year for 2018. The candidates, published by the International World Games Association on Friday, are nominated by the international federations of sports represented in The World Games.
The Federation of International Lacrosse chose Team USA, which went undefeated during the 2018 FIL World Championship in Israel, dethroning Canada in thrilling fashion. Tom Schreiber’s game-winning goal with one second remaining lifted the U.S. to a 9-8 victory July 21 at Netanya Stadium.
Voting opened Tuesday, with fans allowed to vote once every 24 hours. Those that sign up for The World Games newsletter can vote twice every 24 hours.
The list will be whittled down to the 10 nominees with highest vote totals on Jan. 15. Voting will continue for the top 10 until the contest ends Jan. 31.
The World Games Athlete of the Year race presents another opportunity for lacrosse to gain international appeal. The International Olympic Committees recently granted provisional recognition to the FIL, a major hurdle in the quest to get the sport reinstated in the Olympic program.
Both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams will compete in the 2021 World Games — a major international multi-sport event for non-Olympic sports, or disciplines or events within a sport — in Birmingham, Ala.