2020 ESPYS: Boxer Kim Clavel wins Pat Tillman Award, Internet praises her selfless service amid pandemic
Boxing champion Kim Clavel was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPYS on Sunday, June 21. The 29-year-old was given the honor after her decision to leave the sport and return to work as a nurse amid the coronavirus outbreak. Actress Halle Barry introduced Clavel and called her a fighter by trade. "And all this pandemic did was offer her a new opponent," she said.
"It is an honor to receive the Pat Tillman Award on behalf of all the health care workers battling COVID-19 on the frontlines," Clavel told ESPN ahead of her acceptance speech. "Although recently I have pursued my dream of boxing, helping people is my passion and I'm proud to be able to make a difference." You can watch the clip from ESPN below:
Kim Clavel was on the verge of a boxing breakthrough, but when the coronavirus pandemic struck, she put one career aside for another.
— ESPN (@espn) June 22, 2020
Tonight, she accepts the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the #ESPYS. pic.twitter.com/PZk8Sctxs8
In a video biography that aired on Sunday, Clavel said she was born to do it. "I worked in the Covid-19 zone," she explained about working in elder care facilities in Montreal during the pandemic. "It's really hard, when everything gets dark, they think about their life... I sing, I talk with them and maybe make them smile. To see these people die alone, without their family — for me it's not human. They need humanity," she said in an interview with People.
Twitter also showered praise on the athlete. "Wow wow and wow! Huge congratulations!!! Thank you for all that you do!" a fan wrote. "Kim Clavel 'HERO' God Bless all who are like Her," a fan tweeted. "Big Kim Clavel fan after watching her at the espys!" a user shared. "Fascinating decision to honor a healer with an award that usually goes to a different kind of heroism," a fan remarked. "Respect to all women who throw down. You ladies fight just like men and sometimes way better," a fan said.
"Man what an amazing story #theespys," a fan tweeted. "This was a very inspirational story on Kim. May God always bless her. And thank you very much for having a Pat Tillman for Service ESPN. She is and Pat was an inspiration for their Service," a fan paid rich tribute. Hosts Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, OL Reign wing and former Portland Pilot Megan Rapinoe and Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird hosted the virtual event on ESPN.