COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 5, 2015 – Three-time World all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, is one of five finalists for the United States Olympic Committee’s 2014-15 Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, presented by Dick’s Sport Goods. The USOC today announced all of the finalists for the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of the Year, which recognize the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes year-round. Fans are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through Friday, Nov. 20.
Online fan voting at TeamUSA.org/Awards accounts for 50 percent of the final tally, while members of the Olympic and Paralympic family – including an esteemed panel of Olympic and Paralympic journalists – account for the other 50 percent. The six award winners will be announced during the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of the Year, to be held Dec. 10 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Houston Hall in Philadelphia. The awards show will be televised on NBCSN on Dec. 27 from 3-4 p.m. ET. The year-end celebration will also recognize the Building Dreams Award, presented by USG, which honors an individual, group or community that has gone above and beyond in its support of Team USA.
Biles has had a tremendous year (late 2014 through Oct. 31, 2015), breaking numerous U.S. and World records. Here’s a quick summary of her accomplishments during that window, including her record-breaking stint at the recent 2015 World Championships.
- First woman to win 10 career World Gymnastics Championships gold medals. Biles had six going into the 2015 World Championships, where she added four golds – team, all-around, balance beam and floor exercise.
- First woman to win three straight World Championship all-around titles.
- First woman to earn four gold medals at consecutive World Championships.
- First U.S. gymnast, male or female, to garner 14 career World medals, easily exceeding the previous record of 10 held by Alicia Sacramone. Her 14 World medals ties her for third on the women’s World all-time medalist list.
- World Championships medals added in the last two years to her 2013 haul of four medals (gold – all-around and floor exercise; silver – vault; and balance beam – bronze.
- 2015 Worlds (5): gold – team, all-around, beam and floor; and bronze – vault.
- 2014 Worlds (5): gold – team, all-around, beam and floor; and silver – vault.
- First U.S. woman to win three consecutive U.S. all-around titles (2013-15) in 23 years.
- U.S. national titles and medals won in 2015.
- Gold –all-around, vault and balance beam
- Silver – floor exercise
- 2015 AT&T American Cup champion
- Has won every all-around competition she has entered since the 2013 P&G Championships, USA Gymnastics’ national championships, in August 2013. Other accomplishments during 2015 are listed below.
- Jesolo (Italy) Trophy – team, all-around, vault, balance beam and floor gold
- Secret U.S. Classic – all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise gold.
The other finalists for the women’s award are: Adeline Gray, wrestling; Gwen Jorgensen, triathlon; Katie Ledecky, swimming; and Serena Williams, tennis.
In addition to the women’s award, the other five categories for Team USA Awards to honor athletes and teams of the year are: Male Olympic Athlete of the Year; Olympic Team of the Year, presented by Dow; Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods; Male Paralympic Athlete of the Year; and Paralympic Team of the Year, presented by Dow. The complete list of finalists is available at TeamUSA.org/Awards.
Formerly known as the USOC SportsMan, SportsWoman and Team of the Year awards, the honors began in 1974. The impressive and diverse collection of past winners – from Carl Lewis (track and field) and Bonnie Blair (speedskating) to Michael Phelps (swimming) and Jessica Long (Paralympic swimming) – represent nearly 30 sports on the summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic programs. Their collective accomplishments tell the inspiring story of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements throughout history.
Athletes and teams considered for the Best of the Year were finalists for Best of the Month honors, dating back to the fall of the previous year and coinciding with the sport calendar. A USOC nominating committee then selected the top-five finalists in the individual categories and top three in the team categories to advance to the voting round.
In addition to presenting sponsor Dow, four USOC partners – Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kellogg’s, Samsung and USG – are associate sponsors of the Team USA Awards program.