Joey Cheek will be the second recipient of the coveted president's award. The first president's award was presented to John Wooden in 2004. The intent of the president's award is to honor individuals who actively promote and advance the qualities in competitive athletics of leadership, education, compassion and humanity in others. The honoree must have consistently displayed a dedication to the promotion of these ideals whether it be in coaching, broadcasting/journalism or a committed dedication to the service of others, and in so doing, inspired others to do likewise.

Joey Cheek skated into the spotlight at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Cheek won the gold medal in the 500-meter individual long track, with the largest margin of victory in more than 50 years, and the silver medal in the 1000-meter individual long track events. He was elected by his peers to carry the American flag during the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. He also earned the crown jewel of Olympic sports endorsements by becoming the featured athlete on the limited edition Wheaties box. He received the 2006 U.S. Olympic Spirit Award for his demonstration of the Olympic ideals during the games. He won a bronze medal at the 2002 Olympic games.

He was named the United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Month and the 2006 United States Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Year. "These prestigious awards recognize the outstanding contributions athletes have made to the Olympic and Paralympic sport as well as the positive example they have set for all Americans," said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Cheek's performance off the ice was also a key component to what secured his selection as Sportsman of the Year. During the Games in Torino, Cheek announced that he was giving $40,000 in winnings to Right to Play for a refugee effort for children in Darfur, Sudan. His philanthropy brought him national respect and recognition throughout 2006.

Cheek was named Speedskating's Athlete of the Year, one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People and one of Ten Young Outstanding Americans presented by the Jaycees. He also was a finalist for Sports Illustrated's Athlete of the Year, won the 2006 Olympic Spirit Award Delivered by DHL, the 2006 National Sportsmanship Award, was named Eric Heiden Skater of the Year, and was the first recipient of the Heisman Humanitarian Award by the Heisman Trophy Trust. He was also profiled in People Magazine's year end, "Most Interesting people of 2006" issue.

Cheek participated in the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative where he officially launched his own Darfur activism campaign, "Where Will We Be?" During the closing address, President Clinton called Cheek to the stage to publicly recognize his past efforts and ongoing humanitarian work in front of an elite audience of some of the world's most powerful people.

Cheek supports both Right To Play, a non-governmental humanitarian organization that uses sport and play to aid in the development of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world, and the Save Darfur Coalition who's mission is to raise public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and to mobilize a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of two million people in the Darfur region.