UniUSA Announces Inaugural Gary Cunningham Award Winners Across FISU Competition
- May 22
- 5 min read
UniUSA is proud to recognize the recipients of its inaugural honors celebrating outstanding achievement, leadership, and service during FISU competition. These awards recognize student-athletes, coaches, teams, and leaders who exemplify excellence on the international stage while advancing the values of collegiate sport through integrity, sportsmanship, and global engagement.
2025 UniUSA Honors Recipients
Female Athlete of the Year
Leah Shackley | Swimming
The Student-Athlete of the Year award recognizes exceptional athletic performance during FISU competition, honoring athletes who demonstrate competitive excellence and personal growth on the global stage.
Leah Shackley delivered one of the most dominant performances of the Games, capturing five gold medals and one silver for USA Swimming while helping lead UniUSA in the pool.
“Leah’s recognition as Female Athlete of the Year is well-deserved and a testament to her consistency, competitiveness, and spirit. I could not be prouder of what this group accomplished.” - USA Swimming National Team Director, Greg Meehan
Male Athlete of the Year
Sunghyun Eric Gun | Taekwondo
The Student-Athlete of the Year award recognizes exceptional athletic performance during FISU competition, honoring athletes who demonstrate competitive excellence and personal growth on the global stage.
Eric Gun represented UniUSA with excellence in Taekwondo, competing against top international talent while demonstrating consistency, discipline, and high-level performance throughout the Games.
“This award means a lot not just to me, but to the UniUSA team as well as the NCTA. It reflects the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices that our entire staff and team have put in together. Representing UniUSA at the Summer World University Games was an incredible experience, and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish as a group.” - Sunghyun Eric Gun
Female Coach of the Year
Abby Dunkin | 3x3 Women’s Basketball
The Coach of the Year award honors impactful leaders who foster athletic development, unity, and success while mentoring student-athletes through international competition.
Abby Dunkin guided Team USA through the fast-paced international 3x3 basketball environment with leadership, preparation, and resilience.
“This award reflects the heart, resilience, and unity of a truly special group of athletes and staff. Being part of the first-ever women’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball team at the 2025 World University Games was a historic moment, and I was honored to play even a small role in it. It speaks to the heart of the Paralympic movement, and I’m inspired every day watching the inclusion of para sport continue to grow.” - Coach Dunkin
Male Coach of the Year
Adam Wright | Water Polo
The Coach of the Year award honors impactful leaders who foster athletic development, unity, and success while mentoring student-athletes through international competition.
Adam Wright led USA Water Polo with strategic excellence and composure, helping his team compete at a high level against elite international opponents.
“Receiving the inaugural UniUSA Gary Cunningham Men’s Coach Award is truly humbling. Gary is a UCLA Legend but more importantly he is an incredible human being and a dear friend. The credit goes to my staff Kyle Boal, Nico Tierney, Matt Kubeck and Alleah Gogley for being committed to ensuring our team was in a position to be their best when their best was needed. There absolutely no way we place both of our teams in the gold medal matches without REAL TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS BTI who made our lives so much easier and allowed our staff to focus on our preparation. More specifically I would like to thank Dan Guerrero the head of the USA Delegation, Nels Hawkinson and David Knoop for their unwavering support. Lastly to the players as we just follow their lead. They were all in from the very beginning and kept their focus, drive and passion throughout this process.” - Coach Wright
Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award (Female)
Dr. Sherri LaShomb
The Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and impact extend beyond the field of play while embodying the values of integrity, sportsmanship, and global citizenship.
Dr. Sherri LaShomb demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the student-athlete experience throughout the World University Games.
“I am incredibly honored and extremely humbled to receive the inaugural Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award. This award means a great deal to me because of what the award represents. The level of dedication and commitment to collegiate sports that Mr. Cunningham has demonstrated is something to aspire to. To be associated with such an icon of selfless volunteerism is an amazing privilege. I am so proud to be a part of this community and can only hope to be a small part of the continued success of collegiate sports.
I am so grateful to UniUSA and the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association for the continued opportunity to work with our USA Collegiate Taekwondo Team, and the extraordinary support I have received from the athletes, their families, our coaches, and the rest of the USA Team staff. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank my husband, Carlos Pena, for his ongoing continued support of my love of providing medical care to athletes and my time away from home.“ - Dr. LaShomb
Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award (Male)
Dr. Ron Olson
The Gary Cunningham Spirit of Sport Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and impact extend beyond the field of play while embodying the values of integrity, sportsmanship, and global citizenship.
Dr. Ron Olson played a vital leadership role in supporting UniUSA and advancing the mission of international collegiate sport.
“It is an honor to be receiving this award. I will accept it on behalf of the many team members equally or more deserving.” - Dr. Olson
Team of the Year
USA Swimming | Men’s & Women’s Teams
The Team of the Year award celebrates teams that achieve exceptional success during FISU competition through medal-winning performances, record-breaking achievements, and historic contributions to UniUSA’s international legacy.
At the FISU World University Summer Games, USA Swimming’s men’s and women’s teams delivered dominant performances in the pool, combining for medal-winning results, depth across events, and one of UniUSA’s strongest overall showings of the Games. Their performances set the standard for excellence on the international stage.
“It’s incredible to see our athletes recognized for their success at the World University Games. Earning both the men’s and women’s Team of the Year awards speaks to the depth, talent, and unity of this group. These honors reflect not just the medals and records, but the character of this team. I could not be prouder of what this group accomplished.” - USA Swimming National Team Director, Greg Meehan
These inaugural honors reflect UniUSA’s commitment to recognizing the student-athletes, coaches, teams, and leaders who continue to elevate collegiate sport on the world stage. Their achievements at the FISU World University Games represent not only competitive excellence, but also the values of leadership, service, and global connection that define UniUSA.
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