Thanks to Hennessy the International Athletic Association is bringing back the Jesse Owens International Trophy presentation. After an eleven-year hiatus, the IAA aims to celebrate the universal values of integrity, sportsmanship, and excellence that Jesse Owens stood for, while honoring one of today’s most elite athletes.The exclusive gala dinner takes place this Monday in New York City.   Past Award recipients include Michael Johnson, Florence Griffith Joyner and Carl Lewis.

The award, presented annually to one world-class athlete, was created in 1981 in honor of the celebrated track and field star Jesse Owens. Owens famously made history as an athlete and activist, in 1936 winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympic Games. The trophy was last presented in 2003 and the IAA is proud to bring it back to its rightful place among sports’ most prestigious awards.

“The impact that Jesse Owens has had on the world, using sports as his springboard, is immeasurable,” said Herbert P. Douglas, Jr., Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the International Athletics Association Board of Directors and US Olympic medalist at the 1948 London Summer Games. “Through this award we’re honoring Jesse’s legacy and championing a new class of athletes to follow in his footsteps.”

Finalists for the 2014 Jesse Owens International Trophy include:

Marit Bjoergen (Norway, Cross-Country Skiing)
Thirty-three and still one of the world’s elite skiers, Bjoergen has won seven Olympic medals and was the most decorated athlete at the Vancouver Games.

Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Athletics)
The fastest man in track and field history, Bolt has won six Olympic gold medals, eight World Championship gold medals and holds records for the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 relay.

Mohamed Farah (Great Britain, Athletics)
Considered one of Athletics’ greatest distance runners, Farah was the winner of the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races at the 2012 Olympic Games and 2013 World Championships.

LeBron James (USA, Basketball)
The most dominant player in recent basketball history, James has won four NBA MVP titles, two NBA Finals MVP awards, back-to-back NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals.

Lionel “Leo” Messi (Spain, Soccer)
Often referred to as the best soccer player in the world, Messi is currently FC Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, has registered the most “hat-tricks” in Champions League history and is the only player to score five goals in a game in the Champions League ever.

Apolo Ohno (USA, Short Track Speed Skating)
Over the course of three Olympic Games, Ohno has won eight medals, the most of any US winter Olympian. He has also won twenty-one World Championship medals in his career.

Michael Phelps (USA, Swimming)
The most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps has won twenty-two Olympic medals, eighteen of them gold. He has also taken home seventy-one medals in international competition and is a multiple world record-breaker.

Serena Williams (USA, Tennis)
Considered the greatest women’s player in tennis history, Williams has won thirty-two Grand slams in her career, including seventeen singles, thirteen women’s doubles and two mixed doubles titles. She is also the fifth woman ever to win all four Grand Slam titles.

Tiger Woods (USA, Golf)
Arguably the most successful golfer in history, Woods has been ranked number one in the world for stints of 264 weeks and then 281 weeks; both record totals. He has been named PGA Player of the Year a record ten times and has won more major tournaments than any active player.

Liu Xiang (China, Athletics)
A former world record-holder in the 110-meter high hurdles, Xiang is considered China’s most successful athletes. He has won gold medals in both the 2004 Olympic Games and 2007 World Championships.

These ten athletes were selected by the IAA Board of Directors and will be evaluated by a group of electors consisting of sports writers and experts representing every continent. One athlete will be selected as this year’s winner, joining the ranks of past recipients including, American track and field legend Carl Lewis, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and others.

The IAA will recognize the 2014 recipient of the International Athlete Trophy during a special black tie gala and award dinner March 10th in New York City.