Assemblyman Mike Gatto and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus honored Olympian Kate Hansen yesterday at the “Woman of the Year” awards ceremony at the State Capitol in Sacramento.  The awards ceremony commemorates women who have made a great contribution to California and who have inspired women and girls in California and beyond.

Kate Hansen, a resident of La Cañada Flintridge, was nominated by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) for her athletic accomplishments and indomitable spirit.  Ms. Hansen is the current U.S. National Champion in the luge, former World Champion, and was the first American to win a World Cup event in seventeen years.  Just weeks after winning the U.S. National Championship, Kate broke her foot in an Olympic training run.  Undeterred, Kate pushed through the pain and in February 2014, only three months after breaking her foot, she placed tenth at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

The Assemblyman learned of Kate Hansen’s efforts, and her struggle to overcome injuries and other setbacks, while watching her compete in the Olympics.  “I owe so much to the strong women in my life, who inspired me.  Kate Hansen inspired the world at Sochi.”

Yesterday’s ceremony in the Assembly Chambers at the California State Capitol, recognized eighty distinguished women from around the state, including Hansen and 94-year-old Elinor Otto, one of the original “Rosie the Riveters,” who has been installing rivets on cargo planes for seventy years.  Kate Hansen was escorted on to the floor of the Assembly Chambers by Assemblyman Gatto and attended a reception with the Assemblyman and the other honorees.