Article via US Sailing:

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The Kevin Burnham Memorial Award is given annually to a competitor (or team of competitors) who best exemplifies Kevin’s spirit and embodies these characteristics: passion, perseverance, persistence, sportsmanship on and off the water, love of the sport and love of his/her competitors. The award is open to sailors who compete or previously competed in Olympic classes and/or the Olympic Development Program. This year’s recipient, Magnus Liljedahl, is a legend in the US Sailing Community. Born in Sweden but competing for the United States, Liljedahl is the 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Star Class with Mark Reynolds. Together they also won the World Championship in the Star in 2000 and were voted the Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year and ISAF Sailors of the Year. Liljedahl was a three-time North American Champion in the Star and a three-time European Champion.

Besides being a world class competitor, Liljedahl has spent his life giving back to the sport. He is the Executive Director of Team Paradise, a sailing center in Miami, Florida dedicated to changing lives by inspiring and empowering all sailors, including disabled and under-resourced communities, US Veterans, and others through recreational, educational, and healing programs that motivate and engage participants in the sport of sailing.  

Team Paradise is a US Sailing Accredited Community Sailing Center and Accredited Keelboat School and provides recreational sailing, therapeutic sailing, STEM education, casual bay excursions, and corporate team building events. It is a unique sailing organization that provides opportunities and education for everyone at all levels of ability: youth and adults, beginner to advanced.