COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee today announced its annual award recipients for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and teams of the year. Each of the 2011-12 honorees were part of Team USA's outstanding performance at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and all are reigning Olympic or Paralympic champions. Sprinter Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, Calif.) has been named the USOC SportsWoman of the Year; swimmer Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) was selected SportsMan of the Year; the U.S. women's eight rowing team was honored as Olympic Team of the Year; swimmer Jessica Long (Baltimore, Md.) was named Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year; wheelchair racer Raymond Martin (Jersey City, N.J.) was named Paralympic SportsMan of the Year; and the U.S. men's quad doubles wheelchair tennis team was designated Paralympic Team of the Year.
"We are so proud to honor these young men and women who represent the finest ambassadors of sport, Team USA and the Olympic Movement," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "Through their commitment to excellence on and off the field, these athletes represent our country with incredible grace and composure, and their outstanding achievements are an inspiration to all Americans."
The six awards will be presented at a celebratory dinner during the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Assembly held Sept. 20-21 at the Antlers Hilton Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Allyson Felix, Olympic SportsWoman of the Year
U.S. track & field standout Allyson Felix made history during her third Olympic appearance by collecting three gold medals and becoming the first woman to accomplish the feat since Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988. Felix claimed her first gold of the London Games in the 200 meters and, two days later, ran the second leg of the world-record setting 4x100 relay team. She closed the Games with the gold medal in the 4x400 relay. A three-time Olympic medalist in the 200, Felix claimed top honors in her signature event at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, breaking Griffith-Joyner's 24-year-old record with a time of 21.69 seconds - the fourth-fastest by a woman in history. The three-time Jesse Owens Award winner became the first American woman to win national titles in all three sprint events at the 2011 U.S. Outdoor Championships. She completed her stellar 2011 campaign by winning four medals at the 2011 World Championships, tying Carl Lewis for 10 career medals in the event.
Michael Phelps, Olympic SportsMan of the Year
During the recently completed 2012 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history with 22 medals, including 18 golds. At the London Games, Phelps capped his illustrious career with four gold medals - including individual titles in the 200-meter individual medley and 100 butterfly and relay wins in the 4x200 freestyle and 4x100 medley. He also added silver medals in the 200 butterfly and the 4x100 freestyle relay. It was a fitting exclamation point to Phelps' career that spanned four Olympic Games. Phelps concluded the 2012 Games as the most successful swimmer of the meet for a third consecutive time. In his final season, Phelps also earned the 2011-12 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series title and collected seven medals at the 2012 FINA World Championships.
U.S. Women's Eight, Olympic Team of the Year
With a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, the women's eight - Erin Cafaro (Modesto, Calif.), Caryn Davies (Ithaca, N.Y.), Susan Francia (Abington, Pa.), Caroline Lind (Greensboro, N.C.), Esther Lofgren (Newport Beach, Calif.), Eleanor Logan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine), Meghan Musnicki (Naples, N.Y.), Taylor Ritzel (Larkspur, Colo.) and Mary Whipple (Orangevale, Calif.) - continued its historic run that includes seven straight world championships and three consecutive Olympic medals. The U.S. defended the gold in London, finishing the course in 6:10.59, nearly two seconds ahead of the field. It was a fitting culmination to a year that saw the U.S. fortify its championship dynasty on the world stage. The team set the course record at the 2011 Henley Royal Regatta to claim the Remenham Challenge Cup and won gold at the 2011 World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. At the 2012 World Cup, the team set a world record in its defeat over Canada. The women's eight continued its winning tradition with a gold-medal finish at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Slovenia to qualify for London. All nine athletes in the boat are ranked among the top 16 most-medaled female athletes in U.S. history at the world championship and Olympic levels.
Jessica Long, Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year
U.S. Paralympic swimming standout Jessica Long collected eight medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games to tie for the most of any athlete and bring her total Paralympic medal count to 17 over three Games. The 20-year-old grabbed gold in five events in London, including the 100-meter butterfly (S8), 400 freestyle (S8), 100 breaststroke (SB7), 200 individual medley (SM8) and 100 freestyle (S8). She also claimed silver in the 100 backstroke (S8) and the 4x100 freestyle relay (34 points), and bronze in the 4x100 medley relay (34 points). Long also lowered her world-record times in the 100 and 400 freestyle and has won both events at three consecutive Paralympic Games. She punched her ticket to London after winning seven events and breaking five world records at the 2012 U.S Paralympic Trails. She returned to the international stage with high hopes in London after capturing nine gold medals and four world records at the 2011 Pan-Pacific Paralympic Swimming Championships. Swimming World Magazine named Long Disabled Swimmer of the Year in 2011, and in 2012, she won her second ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability.
Raymond Martin, Paralympic SportsMan of the Year
In his first Paralympic Games, 18-year-old Raymond Martin struck nothing but gold, winning every event he entered in London. Competing in the T52 class, Martin secured Team USA's first track & field gold of the Games after winning the 100 meters. He then cruised to victory in the 400, before securing the top podium spot in the 800. The 200-meter world-record holder then completed his sweep of the sprint events, posting a time of 30.25 seconds in the 200, his premier event. Martin entered the Games with high expectations after taking top honors in the 200, 400 and 800 meters at the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Trials, where he set a world record and an American record in the 200 and 800. Martin's 2011-12 campaign was also highlighted by four medals - including two golds and two silvers - at the 2011 Parapan American Games, followed by a record-shattering performance at the Swiss Series, where he set national records in the 200 and 400.
U.S. Men's Quad Doubles Wheelchair Tennis Team, Paralympic Team of the Year
The U.S. men's quad doubles tennis team of Nick Taylor (Wichita, Kan.) and David Wagner (Hillsboro, Ore.) captured its third consecutive gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The winning duo, which has dominated the field since quad doubles was introduced at the 2004 Paralympic Games, outlasted favorites Andrew Lapthorne and Peter Norfolk of Great Britain, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, to defend its title. Taylor and Wagner opened the 2011-12 campaign by aiding the U.S. to its seventh world team cup championship last May. Four months later, the duo combined to win its seventh grand slam doubles title at the 2011 U.S. Open. Prior to the Games, the pair finished third at the 2012 World Team Cup. In addition to winning doubles gold at the London Games, Taylor and Wagner each medaled in the individual competition, with Wagner claiming silver and bringing his total medal count to five, and Taylor earning bronze to improve his medal count to four overall.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The USOC SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards have been presented annually to the top overall male and female athletes from USOC member organizations since 1974. In 1996, a team category was added to recognize the outstanding achievements of team members who might not otherwise have been eligible for individual awards. The Paralympian of the Year award was introduced in 2004, and the category was expanded to the Paralympic SportsWoman, SportsMan and Team of the Year awards in 2009. Winners are selected from the female, male and team of the year nominations of the National Governing Bodies for the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games sports, as well as select, designated entities within the U.S. Olympic Movement.
USOC SportsMan of the Year
-1974 Jim Bolding, Track & Field
-1975 Clinton Jackson, Boxing
-1976 John Naber, Swimming
-1977 Eric Heiden, Speedskating
-1978 Bruce Davidson, Equestrian
-1979 Eric Heiden, Speedskating
-1980 Eric Heiden, Speedskating
-1981 Scott Hamilton, Figure Skating
-1982 Greg Louganis, Diving
-1983 Rick McKinney, Archery
-1984 Edwin Moses, Track & Field
-1985 Willie Banks, Track & Field
-1986 Matt Biondi, Swimming
-1987 Greg Louganis, Diving
-1988 Matt Biondi, Swimming
-1989 Roger Kingdom, Track & Field
-1990 John Smith, Wrestling
-1991 Carl Lewis, Track & Field
-1992 Pablo Morales, Swimming
-1993 Michael Johnson, Track & Field
-1994 Dan Jansen, Speedskating
-1995 Michael Johnson, Track & Field
-1996 Michael Johnson, Track & Field
-1997 Pete Sampras, Tennis
-1998 Jonny Moseley, Skiing
-1999 Lance Armstrong, Cycling
-2000 Rulon Gardner,Wrestling
-2001 Lance Armstrong, Cycling
-2002 Lance Armstrong, Cycling
-2003 Lance Armstrong, Cycling
-2004 Michael Phelps, Swimming
-2005 Hunter Kemper, Triathlon
-2006 Joey Cheek, Speedskating
-2007 Tyson Gay, Track & Field
-2008 Michael Phelps, Swimming
-2009 Todd Lodwick, Nordic Combined
-2010 Evan Lysacek, Figure Skating
-2011-12 Michael Phelps, Swimming '
USOC SportsWoman of the Year
-1974 Shirley Babashoff, Swimming
-1975 Kathy Heddy, Swimming
-1976 Sheila Young, Speedskating
-1977 Linda Fratianne, Figure Skating
-1978 Tracy Caulkins, Swimming
-1979 Cynthia "Sippy" Woodhead, Swimming
-1980 Beth Heiden, Speedskating
-1981 Sheila Young Ochowicz, Cycling/Speedskating
-1982 Melanie Smith, Equestrian
-1983 Tamara McKinney, Skiing
-1984 Tracy Caulkins, Swimming
-1985 Mary Decker Slaney, Track & Field
-1986 Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Track & Field
-1987 Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Track & Field
-1988 Florence Griffith Joyner, Track & Field
-1989 Janet Evans, Swimming
-1990 Lynn Jennings, Track & Field
-1991 Kim Zmeskal, Gymnastics
-1992 Bonnie Blair, Speedskating
-1993 Gail Devers, Track & Field
-1994 Bonnie Blair, Speedskating
-1995 Picabo Street, Skiing
-1996 Amy Van Dyken, Swimming
-1997 Tara Lipinski, Figure Skating
-1998 Picabo Street, Skiing
-1999 Jenny Thompson, Swimming
-2000 Marion Jones, Track & Field
-2001 Jennifer Capriati, Tennis
-2002 Sarah Hughes, Figure Skating
-2003 Michelle Kwan, Figure Skating
-2004 Carly Patterson, Gymnastics
-2005 Katie Hoff, Swimming
-2006 Hannah Teter, Snowboarding
-2007 Katie Hoff, Swimming
-2008 Natalie Coughlin, Swimming and Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
-2009 Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
-2010 Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
-2011-12 Allyson Felix, Track & Field
USOC Olympic Team of the Year
-1996 Women's National/Olympic Basketball Team
-1997 Women's National Soccer Team
-1998 Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team
-1999 Women's National Soccer Team
-2000 Baseball Olympic Team
-2001 Postal Service Cycling Team
-2002 Women's Bobsled Team
-2003 Women's Gymnastics Team
-2004 Olympic Softball Team
-2005 Men's Badminton Doubles Team of Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan
-2006 Men's Olympic Curling Team
-2007 Women's World Championships Gymnastics Team
-2008 Men's National Volleyball Team
-2009 Steven Holcomb's Four-Man Bobsled Team
-2010 USA I Four-Man Bobsled Team
-2011-12 Women's Eight Rowing Team
USOC Paralympian of the Year
-2004 Erin Popovich, Swimming
-2005 Laurie Stephens, Skiing
-2006 Jessica Long, Swimming
-2007 Jessica Galli, Track & Field
-2008 Erin Popovich, Swimming
USOC Paralympic SportsMan of the Year
-2009 Steve Cash, Sled Hockey
-2010 Taylor Chace, Sled Hockey
-2011-12 Raymond Martin, Track & Field
USOC Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year
-2009 Stephani Victor, Skiing
-2010 Alana Nichols, Skiing
-2011-12 Jessica Long, Swimming
USOC Paralympic Team of the Year
-2009 National Sled Hockey Team
-2010 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
-2011-12 Men's Quad Doubles Wheelchair Tennis Team