USOC Athlete of the Year

The USOC Athlete of the Year awards are presented on an annual basis by the United States Olympic Committee to athletes who have distinguished themselves in one of the Olympic or Paralympic sports. Awards are presented to the Olympic or Paralympic SportsMan of the Year, SportsWoman of the Year, and Team of the Year.

Nominees for each award are submitted by the national governing bodies of Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American Games sports, and by their affiliated able-bodied and disabled sports organizations. Winners are selected by a vote of the USOC awards committee, consisting of USOC representatives, media representatives, and Olympic athletes.

The SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards were first presented in 1974; the Team of the Year award was added in 1996 and the Paralympian of the Year award was added in 2004.

SportsMan of the Year

1974 — Jim Bolding, athletics 1975 — Clinton Jackson, boxing 1976 — John Naber, swimming 1977 — Eric Heiden, speedskating 1978 — Bruce Davidson, equestrianism 1979 — Eric Heiden, speedskating 1980 — Eric Heiden, speedskating 1981 — Scott Hamilton, figure skating 1982 — Greg Louganis, diving 1983 — Rick McKinney, archery 1984 — Edwin Moses, athletics 1985 — Willie Banks, athletics 1986 — Matt Biondi, swimming

1987 — Greg Louganis, diving 1988 — Matt Biondi, swimming 1989 — Roger Kingdom, athletics 1990 — John T. Smith, wrestling 1991 — Carl Lewis, athletics 1992 — Pablo Morales, swimming 1993 — Michael Johnson, athletics 1994 — Dan Jansen, speedskating 1995 — Michael Johnson, athletics 1996 — Michael Johnson, athletics 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, speed skating 2007 — Tyson Gay, athletics 2008 — Michael Phelps, swimming 2009 — Todd Lodwick, Nordic combined skiing 2010 — Evan Lysacek, figure skating 2011-12 — Michael Phelps, swimming 2012-13 — Ted Ligety, skiing

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 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, athletics 1986 — Jackie Joyner-Kersee, athletics

1987 — Jackie Joyner-Kersee, athletics 1988 — Florence Griffith Joyner, athletics 1989 — Janet Evans, swimming 1990 — Lynn Jennings, athletics 1991 — Kim Zmeskal, gymnastics 1992 — Bonnie Blair, speedskating 1993 — Gail Devers, athletics 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, athletics

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, alpine skiing 2010 — Lindsey Vonn, alpine skiing 2011-12 — Allyson Felix, track & field 2012-13 — Katie Ledecky, swimming

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 — USA Baseball Olympic Team 2001 — US Postal Service Cycling Team 2002 — Women’s Bobsled Team (Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers) 2003 — Women’s Gymnastics Team 2004 — U.S. Olympic Softball Team

2005 — Men’s Badminton Doubles Team (T. Gunawan, H. Bach) 2006 — U.S. Olympic Men’s Curling Team 2007 — U.S. Women's World Championships Gymnastics 2008 — U.S. Olympic Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team 2009 — U.S. Four-Man Bobsled Team (Steven Holcomb, Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen, Curt Tomasevicz) 2010 — U.S. Four-Man Bobsled Team (Steven Holcomb, Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler, Curt Tomasevicz) 2011-12 — Women’s Eight Rowing Team 2012-13 — Men's Tennis Doubles Team (B. Bryan, M. Bryan)

Paralympian of the Year

"These prestigious awards recognize the outstanding contributions these athletes have made to Olympic and Paralympic sport as well as the positive example they have set for all Americans,” said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. “Each of our winners exemplifies great sportsmanship and strength of character both on and off the field, and all are worthy additions to the distinguished list of past recipients."

• 2004 — Erin Popovich, swimming
• 2005 — Laurie Stephens, alpine skiing
• 2006 — Jessica Long, swimming
• 2007 — Jessica Galli, athletics
• 2008 — Erin Popovich, swimming

Paralympic SportsMan of the Year

• 2009 — Steve Cash, sled hockey
• 2010 — Taylor Chace, sled hockey
• 2011-12 — Raymond Martin, track & field
• 2012-13 — Raymond Martin, track & field

Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year

• 2009 — Stephani Victor, alpine skiing
• 2010 — Alana Nichols, alpine skiing
• 2011-12 — Jessica Long, swimming
• 2012-13 — Monica Bascio, cycling

Paralympic Team of the Year

• 2009 — U.S. National Sled Hockey Team
• 2010 — U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
• 2011-12 — Men’s Quad Doubles Tennis Team
• 2012-13 — U.S. Men's 4x100-Meter Relay Team

See also

• United States Olympic Hall of Fame

External links

• USOC OLYMPIAN ATHLETES OF THE YEAR