CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s gymnastics alum Sam Phillips was named a national honoree of the 2026 Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at the ESPY Awards.
The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award celebrates the legendary sports icon’s commitment to leadership and service, honoring high school and college-aged students who, like Billie Jean King, use sports to improve their communities. Honorees receive either a one-time college scholarship or direct a grant to an eligible nonprofit aligned with their work.
Phillips is a Black, queer former NCAA gymnast, advocate, and full-time staff member at Athlete Ally who is using sport to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion, athlete well-being, and representation in college athletics. As a student-athlete at Nebraska and Illinois, Phillips became a visible leader for inclusion by serving as SAAC president, co-founding advocacy spaces for Black and LGBTQ+ athletes, and launching Nebraska’s first LGBTQ+ student-athlete group.
Through Athlete Ally, he is helping expand athlete-led inclusion work nationwide and will use the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award to strengthen campus chapters, fellowships, and storytelling that help athletes succeed without compromising who they are.
Phillips competed at Illinois from 2025-26, closing his collegiate career in 2026 with All-America and All-Big Ten honors. The California native finished fourth on high bar at the NCAA Championships and claimed the silver medal on high bar at the Big Ten Championships during the 2026 campaign.
