KODIAK, Alaska – A Juneau-based Coast Guard officer was named the Coast Guard Elite Female Athlete of the Year Monday.

Lt. Nicole Auth, assigned to the 17th District prevention division, received this award for her participation in the 5th CISM Military World Games where her team earned the U.S. women’s military sailing team the bronze medal and for her notable community service while stationed in Hawaii.

Auth was the acting bosun and crew’s bow woman for the sailing team during the games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 22. This is the first time the United States won a medal in a sailing event at the Military World Games.

“We weren’t expecting to place that well,” said Auth. “But we were excited to be able to represent the U.S. and its armed forces.”

The Coast Guard selects an elite male and female athlete to be recognized annually. These athletes are recognized for making a significant contribution in a national team sport placing in the top three and for having a notable positive impact in their community.

Auth shares her passion for the sport of sailing by volunteering her time teaching sailing to high school students and she was an active instructor with the Sea Scout Youth Sailing Program in Hawaii.

The World Military Games, sponsored by the International Military Sports Council, are held every four years. Military athletes, as well as a few Olympic athletes, from around the globe come together for the eight-day competition. A total of 37 sports are represented, including everything from basketball to skydiving. The council also organizes more than 20 international military sports championships every year.

The U.S. sailing team, sponsored by the Navy, was made up of Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps members, had only 11 days to prepare for this year’s event during training in Annapolis, Md.

Auth, originally from Lamoine, Maine, has been sailing since high school and sailed for the Coast Guard Academy’s team before graduating in 2004. She was a member of the U.S. coed team at the international sailing championship in Bahrain in 2010. Since then, she and her teammates have been recruiting their fellow service members to apply for the program. This year the U.S. had enough sailors to create a four-person men’s team and five-person woman’s team for the games.

For more information on Auth’s participation in the games click here. For more detailed information on the 5th Military World Games click here.

Source: United States Coast Guard