Five individuals were recognized Monday evening when the Utah Sports Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 class during a ceremony held at The Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The inductees—Shannon Bahrke, Blair Buswell, Lee Benson, Cody Jensen, and Ben Kjar—represent diverse achievements across multiple athletic disciplines and related fields.
Among the honorees, Bahrke distinguished herself as an Olympic freestyle skier, capturing medals in moguls competition at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Games. The Park City resident accumulated 27 World Cup podium finishes and achieved seven victories during her competitive career, earning induction into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2023. Buswell, a sculptor and Weber High graduate, has created over 130 busts for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and sculpted notable monuments including a statue of former Utah State athlete Merlin Olsen and a tribute to basketball coach John Wooden at UCLA.
Benson’s career as a sports journalist at the Deseret News earned him 14 Utah Sportswriter of the Year awards during a 15-year span. His coverage included major sporting events such as 16 Super Bowls, 14 Final Fours, and 10 Olympic Games. Jensen established himself as a successful jockey, winning major quarter horse races including the All-American Futurity and All-American Derby. Kjar excelled in wrestling, becoming a three-time state champion at Viewmont High with a 125-6 record and later earning Utah Valley’s first All-American wrestling honor.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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