Sidney Barbier, a senior on the University of Denver Nordic ski team, has been named the recipient of the Class of 2025 Honda Inspiration Award, as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA), presented by Honda.
Celebrating its 37th year, the Honda Inspiration Award recognizes a female collegiate athlete in NCAA Division I, II, or III who has triumphed in the face of extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury, illness, or personal sacrifice during her collegiate experience, and who has returned to achieve athletic success.
Barbier was selected by the CWSA Board of Directors from among three national finalists, as chosen by the CWSA Inspiration Award Committee. The other finalists included Katie Cosmos (Elms College, Softball) and Marlee Morgan (University of Virginia, Track & Field).
“I am truly honored to be receiving this award and getting the chance to share my story with so many people,” said Barbier. “It is important to me to act as a voice for all those who are dealing with their own hidden pains.
“I hope nobody has to go through what I went through, but if they are, I want people to know that there is hope out there. Never give up and trust that there are people out there who will listen, support and advocate for you. The award’s name is the Inspiration Award, so to be able to be that inspiration of hope, even for just one person, is a huge honor and is something I don’t take lightly."
Each of the 2025 finalists’ inspiring journeys was featured in the CBS Sports Network special Defying the Odds: The 2025 Honda Inspiration Award, which will re-air 10 times throughout June. The final airing is scheduled for Monday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. ET, leading into the live broadcast of the 2025 Collegiate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda at 7:00 p.m. ET.
“We salute all of the extraordinary women who faced and overcame adversity to continue competing this year,” said Voelz. “Representing them as the 2025 Honda Inspiration Award recipient is Sidney Barbier, whose unwavering determination and resilience in the face of debilitating medical challenges have not only inspired her peers, but will move viewers across the country through our Inspiration special and annual awards broadcast. We are proud to welcome Sidney to the Class of 2025 and look forward to honoring her in New York City.”
A native of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Barbier endured unexplained, debilitating abdominal pain for six years, beginning in high school and continuing throughout her first three years at Denver. Despite undergoing numerous tests, surgeries and unsuccessful treatments, answers remained elusive.
It wasn’t until early 2024 that specialists at the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed Barbier with nutcracker syndrome, a rare vascular condition in which the renal vein is compressed, causing severe pain. That March, she underwent a first-of-its-kind surgery in the United States by Dr. Mohamed Eltemamy.
For the first time since she was a freshman in high school, Barbier was able to compete nearly pain free on the Nordic tracks in winter 2025. Despite also dealing with complications of a torn hip labrum during the season, she finished all 10 collegiate races she competed in and finished her DU career as a four-time letterwinner.
“Sidney’s perseverance and steadfast advocacy is inspiring to us all, and myself, her teammates, and everyone a part of the skiing program are so proud of everything that she has accomplished during her time at Denver," said DU Nordic Head Coach Roger Brown. “Despite dealing with the incredible pain of nutcracker syndrome daily, it did not slow her down and prevent her from being an incredible teammate and friend. Her dedication to the team, her music, the environment, and campus community makes her a true Pioneer, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.”
“The University of Denver would like to congratulate Sidney Barbier on being the winner of the 2025 Inspiration Award,” stated Denver Josh Berlo, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Richie Center Operations. “Sidney’s relentless perseverance as a student-athlete while enduring nutcracker syndrome is truly admirable. She didn’t let the symptoms and insufferable pain she dealt with define who she is. She continued to push forward looking for an answer and how she persistently advocated for herself is inspirational.
“Concurrently, she is an outstanding student and member of our campus community through her work with DU’s Undergraduate Student Government, Sustainability Council and Lamont School of Music. We are incredibly proud of all that Sidney has accomplished on and off the Nordic tracks and is so deserving of being the first Denver athlete to be recognized with such an honor from the Collegiate Women Sports Awards.”
“We proudly congratulate Sidney on her perseverance in the face of a difficult diagnosis,” said Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors Patty Viverito. “Her courage in confronting nutcracker syndrome exemplifies the very spirit of the Honda Inspiration Award. We also extend our gratitude to CBS Sports Network for their ongoing commitment to sharing the powerful stories of these remarkable women.”
Now in its 49th year, the CWSA continues to honor the top NCAA women student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievements, leadership, and community service. Since its inception in 1986, the Honda partnership has awarded over $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of award winners and nominees in support of women’s athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation
For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.