Michael Phelps was named the United States Sports Academy male athlete of the year for 2016 beating out Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt for the award.
Phelps is the only swimmer to ever win this award. He’s won it two times previously as well, in both 2003 and 2008, and ranks second only to defamed cyclist Lance Armstrong for total number of victories for the award.
Phelps was named the recipient award due to his performance at the Olympic Games in Rio this past summer. Phelps ended his historic career with five gold medals and one silver, bringing his Olympic medal total to 28, including five golds.
Phelps was jointly recognized with American gymnast Simone Biles who was named the United States Sports Academy female athlete of the year for the four gold medals and one bronze she won in gymnastics at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Finishing second to Phelps was eight-time* Olympic medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Third behind the two Olympic legends was Slovenian ski flyre Peter Prevc. Prevc took home a win at the International Ski Federation Ski Jumping World Cup Finals in Slovenia this past March. Prevc also won the Four Hills tournament and became the Ski Flying World Champion.
Phelps wasn’t the only swimmer in consideration for the award. Hungarian superstar Katinka Hosszu finished as the women’s runner-up behind Biles. Hosszu won three gold medals and a silver at the Rio Olympic Games and broke the world record in the 400m IM. Hosszu is largely recognized as being one of the best all-around swimmers in modern swimming history.
The recipients of the awards are decided based on a year-long selection process. During the first week of each month the United States Sports Academy holds on online nominating process in which the public can nominate and vote for athletes based on their achievements. The Academy then uses the voting results to guide their selection committee who pick monthly male and female winners. The monthly winners then become eligible for selection for the Athlete of the Year Award, which is selected using a public vote.
List of Previous Male Winners
- 2014 – Novak Djokovic
- 2013 – Rafael Nadal
- 2012 – Usain Bolt
- 2011 – Novak Djokovic
- 2010 – David Villa
- 2009 – Manny Pacquiao
- 2008 – Michael Phelps
- 2007 – Brett Favre
- 2006 – Tiger Woods
- 2005 – Lance Armstrong
- 2004 – Lance Armstrong
- 2003 – Michael Phelps
- 2002 – Cael Sanderson
- 2001 – Lance Armstrong
- 2000 – Lance Armstrong
- 1999 – Lance Armstrong
- 1998 – Lance Armstrong
- 1997 – Sammy Sosa
- 1996 – Michael Jordan
List of Previous Female Winners
- 2014 -Maria Sharapova
- 2013 – Yuna Kim
- 2012 – Serena Williams
- 2011 – Yani Tseng
- 2010 – Yuna Kim
- 2009 – Yelena Isinbaeva
- 2008 – Nastia Liukin
- 2007 – Justine Henin
- 2006 – Maria Sharapova
- 2005 – Danica Patrick
- 2004 – Carly Patterson
- 2003 – Annika Sorenstam
- 2002 – Serena Williams
- 2001 – Jennifer Capriati
- 2000 – Marion Jones
- 1999 – Marion Jones
- 1998 – Marion Jones
- 1997 – Tara Lapinski
- 1996 – Martina Hingis
- 1995 – Steffi Graf
Phelps has 23 Olympic Gold, not 5!
I have no prob with this .Whilst we are on American Excellence can I say Ralph Lauren’s outfit worn by Melania was THE BEST EVER .Outdoor cold weather formal gear is really difficult but that was masterful . It helps that Melania is just gorgeous but there was so much thought put into it .Double cashmere with the European fitted shoulder cape .Baby blue .OMG .
Her feet looked very pinched but that’s model stoicism & those gloves!
I woke up at 3 am & ws extra impressed .Good job USA.
I agree. She looked great!
USA. USA. USA .
Among other tests that psychiatrists use to check the level of “cuckooness” of his/her patients is the test of finding a pattern within sequence of objects, features, numbers, shapes, etc. I would strongly discourage doctors to use the list of winners of this reward for the purpose of such a test. It will undeservedly embarrass many good people.
The stripping wasn’t Bolt’s fault.
Yeah, it’s pretty lame. Could’ve thrown me on that relay instead of Carter and Jamaica’d probably have won the dang thing.
The country has a history of testing positive so who’s to say no one else on that relay or his other gold medal winning relays were on something. Carter, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson. I’m not saying Bolt is dirty, but the country has a recent history you cannot ignore.
Sorry, but any award Lance Armstrong won SIX times is an ignominious honor!
I don’t agree with that at all. At the time most people thought he was clean and his accomplishments were worthy for a clean athlete.
Lance doesn’t count!
and Marion Jones… and I would name at least a couple others on the list.
Too fair his name is on there prior to his doping scandal.
I mean be fair
Think it might be worth moving steffi Graf onto the ladies list! ????
Why wasn’t Ledecky in consideration?
She has the personality of a brick wall
So that is the personality contest. There is a well known fact that many criminals or cheaters (we have plenty of them at the list provided) are paying a great deal of attention to be personally attractive people. That helps them to stay out of suspicion.
Lol. Walls are back in favour .
She was in contention she just didn’t win
Got it. Thanks.