Since joining the professional ranks of
Women's Motocross in 2008, Florida's Ashley Fiolek has quickly become a household name and has helped give the female demographic of one of the fastest growing sports in America some well-deserved attention. Thanks to her infectious smile, gifted abilities on a motorcycle, and her determination to turn her inability to hear into an advantage, Fiolek has garnered national exposure.
In three years of competition in the
MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship, Fiolek has captured two titles and became the first woman in American Motocross to receive a factory ride as a member of American
Honda. She has won %50 of the races she's competed in with 11 wins in 22 starts and also boasts two X Games gold medals.
With her success and exposure on television shows like Last Call with Carson Daly and ESPN's E:60 as well as features in the pages of the New York Times and ESPN The Magazine, Fiolek has used her popularity to become a leader in the deaf community. She regularly gives back by hosting events at local schools and community centers and is proof that dreams can come true no matter what the circumstances.
Thanks to her inspirational story and philanthropic work, Fiolek is being honored at the annual Courage in Sports Awards alongside former USC football star Stafon Johnson, NBA Hall of Famer and Mayor of Detroit Dave Bing, and a collection of daredevil skydivers known as Wingsuit Pilots. The Courage in Sports Awards recognizes athletes who demonstrate extraordinary courage, spirit, and perseverance in the face of adversity in order to succeed in their chosen sport. The show airs exclusively on CBS Sports this Sunday, November 14 at 5 p.m. ET.
For fan and racing information on the Lucas Oil
AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to
www.allisports.com/motocross.
