The NEXT Athlete award was given out every year by ESPN the Magazine to one or more athletes chosen as a future leader or trailblazer in their sport.[1] The winning athlete(s) was featured on the cover of the late January issue of ESPN the Magazine. On April 30, 2019, ESPN announced that it would cease paper publishing in September of that year.[2][3] A multiplatform monthly story called ESPN Cover Story was launched to continue the magazine's legacy featuring a digital poster-style cover and profile in cover story fashion, including the continuation of NEXT Athlete proclamations and The Body Issue, but these two features did not return.[4]
Historically, the winners of this award have gone on to exceptional careers, or at the very least early success in their careers, with the exception of a few.
- ^ ESPN.com - NEXT 2007 Index
- ^ Ourand, John (April 30, 2019). "ESPN The Magazine To Cease Publishing In September". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ "ESPN The Magazine to cease regular publication in September after 21-year run". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ "The Next Big Thing for ESPN The Magazine". ESPN.com. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
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