Sports Illustrated Kids 2012 SportsKids of the Year: Conner and Cayden

Recipients of Sport Illustrated’s Sportsmen of the Year award, Tennessee brothers Conner and Cayden Long are truly inspirational siblings.

Conner is 9-years-old and participates in a variety of sports. Cayden, who is 7-years-old, is less fortunate, however. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was a baby, the disease has prevented Cayden from being able to play sports with his older brother.

However, that all changed last year when Conner made the decision to team up with Cayden in all three events of a kids triathlon, consisting of 100 yards of swimming and a few miles of biking and running. The event organizers helped supply the brothers with the necessary equipment so that Conner could push and pull Cayden through the 3-event course.

At the Sports Illustrated awards ceremony, 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, Lebron James, said the two boys should be Sports Illustrated’s Sportsmen of the Year, instead of himself.

“I am at a loss for words,” said Lebron. “You guys are the real Sportsmen of the Year.”