All of the biggest stars in Utah sports gathered at the Delta Center on Wednesday night for the 14th annual Governor’s State of Sports Awards show.
Athletes from the high school up to the professional ranks were honored, including Park City aerialist Quinn Dehlinger, who was named the Olympic Male Athlete of the Year for his performance in 2025.
Dehlinger returned from a 2024 knee tear and won the Deer Valley World Cup, the mixed team world championship and a Utah Olympic Park FIS water ramping event in 2025. The 23 year old finished the 2024-25 season ranked sixth in the world, despite not competing in 2024.
Dehlinger podiumed the Lac-Beauport, Canada, World Cup this season and was ranked 10th in the world heading into his first Olympics, where he couldn’t compete due to another ACL injury.
“It feels sweet,” Dehlinger said about Wednesday’s honor. “It’s really special to be recognized in a state where I’ve been doing sports here for going on 10 years.”
Dehlinger admitted he didn’t have grand expectations in 2025. He just wanted to return to a competitive level. He finished the 2022-23 season ranked fifth in the world.
“I got back to that really quickly,” Dehlinger said. “The world championship wins were sweet, but I think the cherry on top of the season was definitely winning Deer Valley.”
Dehlinger would like to come back to Deer Valley and win once more. He had ACL surgery about four weeks ago and just started walking again. He will be back in the gym soon and is preparing to compete again next season.
“I want to thank my parents, the U.S. Ski Team, my physical therapists, coaches and everyone that helped and supported me throughout the whole journey,” Dehlinger said.
Dehlinger was flanked on Wednesday by his U.S. aerials teammates, including his girlfriend, Kaila Kuhn, with whom he won the mixed team world championship. Chris Lillis rounded out the winning team.
“It’s such a privilege to be here and support him,” Kuhn said. “I see firsthand all of the hard work that he puts in every single day. He’s so resilient coming back from these injuries, and he deserves this more than anybody I know.”
“It’s a well-deserved award,” Lillis said. “It’s cool for him to get recognized for such a great season.”
Lillis was excited to watch Dehlinger deliver his acceptance speech and receive the ovation he said his teammate deserves Wednesday.
Dehlinger joins a long list of aerialists and Parkites to be honored at the State of Sport Awards show: Last year his teammate Winter Vinecki was named Olympic Female Athlete of the Year, and cyclist Haley Batten was named Professional Female Athlete of the Year. In 2024 speed skater Casey Dawson was named Olympic Male Athlete of the Year. The 2022 Beijing Olympics gold medal winning mixed team of aerialists Lillis, Justin Schoenefeld and Ashley Caldwell were named Olympic Team of the Year in 2023.
Additional honorees Wednesday included all of Utah’s Milano Cortina Olympians and Paralympians, named Team of the Year, University of Utah Director of Skiing Fredrik Landstedt, who was named Coach of the Year, and Utah Mammoth star and Olympic gold medalist Clayton Keller, who was named Professional Male Athlete of the Year.
Twenty eight-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps was brought in as the honorary guest of the award show. He delivered remarks and mingled with athletes and other guests Wednesday. Dehlinger was excited to meet Phelps and chat with the sporting legend about golf and his achievements in the pool.
“It’s always special coming back here,” Phelps said. “And especially tonight, seeing the best of the best in Utah.”
Phelps believes having a state like Utah, where sports are prioritized, raises the bar for sports worldwide. He said that putting on events like the upcoming 2034 Olympics helps inspire the next generations of athletes.
“Keep dreaming,” Phelps said to the next generation. “There were a lot of people that told me I’d never amount to anything or I wouldn’t be able to accomplish this or that. … For the athletes, just keep doing what they love and following their heart.”