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[]
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- 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
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- 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 Mosely, skiing
- 1999 — Lance Armstrong, cycling
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- 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
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SportsWoman of the Year[]
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- 1974 — Shirley Babashoff, swimming
- 1975 — Kathy Heddy, swimming
- 1976 — Sheila Young, speedskating
- 1977 — Linda Fratianne, figure skating
- 1978 — Tracy Caulkins, swimming
- 1979 — 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, athletics
- 1986 — Jackie Joyner-Kersee, athletics
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- 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
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- 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
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Team of the Year[]
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- 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
- 2003 — Women’s Gymnastics Team
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- 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
- 2010 — U.S. Four-Man Bobsled Team
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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
Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year[]
- 2009 — Stephani Victor, alpine skiing
- 2010 — Alana Nichols, alpine skiing
Paralympic Team of the Year[]
- 2009 — U.S. National Sled Hockey Team
- 2010 — U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team
See also[]
- United States Olympic Hall of Fame