INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Jan. 22, 2009 – 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, was named the 2008 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Co-SportsWoman of the Year with swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Liukin, who earned five medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, is the third individual gymnast to win this award, joining Kim Zmeskal (1991) and Carly Patterson (2004).

“It is a huge honor to receive this award,” Liukin said. “It’s every athlete’s dream to go to the Olympics and it has been mine since I was a little girl. I really love competing and I love the sport.”

“Nastia’s actions both on and off the field of play demonstrate that she is a true champion and a role model for athletes throughout the world,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “This recognition of her outstanding accomplishments is well earned as her five medals in Beijing were the most won by any female gymnast. We also congratulate the other athletes and team being awarded with this honor.”

Swimmer Michael Phelps, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team and Paralympic swimmer Erin Popovich were chosen as the SportsMan, Team and Paralympian of the Year, respectively.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin’s total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games, currently held by Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Shannon Miller (1992). Liukin’s medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin is just the third U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around crown. Earlier in 2008, Liukin won the all-around title at both the Tyson American Cup and the Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus. She also was named the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2008 Individual Sportswoman of the Year and the United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year. Liukin and her teammates on the 2007 U.S. Women’s World Championships Team were selected as the 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year. Liukin is coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988, including two gold. She trains at WOGA.

Former gymnastics winners of USOC annual awards are: SportsWoman – Kim Zmeskal (1991) and Carly Patterson (2004); and Team – U.S. Women’s World Championships Teams (2003 and 2007).

The USOC SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards have been presented annually since 1974 to the top overall male and female athlete from within the USOC member organizations. The team award was added in 1996 and the Paralympian of the Year was awarded for the first time in 2004. Winners are selected from the individual female and male athlete of the year and team of the year nominations of the USOC and National Governing Bodies for the Olympic, Pan American, Affiliated and Disabled Sports Organizations within the U.S. Olympic Movement.

USOC SportsMan, SportsWoman, Paralympian and Team of the Year recipients

SportsMan of the Year
1974 — Jim Bolding, Athletics
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, Athletics
1985 — Willie Banks, Athletics
1986 — Matt Biondi, Swimming
1987 — Greg Louganis, Diving
1988 — Matt Biondi, Swimming
1989 — Roger Kingdom, Athletics
1990 — John 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, Speedskating
2007 — Tyson Gay, Athletics
2008 — Michael Phelps, Swimming

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, 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 — Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics, and Natalie Coughlin, 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 — U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team
2002 — Women’s Bobsled Team
2003 — Women’s Gymnastics Team
2004 — U.S. Olympic Softball Team
2005 — Men’s Badminton Doubles Team
2006 — U.S. Men’s Curling Team
2007 — U.S. Women’s World Championships Gymnastics Team
2008 — U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team

Paralympian of the Year
2004 — Erin Popovich, Swimming
2005 — Laurie Stephens, Alpine Skier
2006 — Jessica Long, Swimming
2007 — Jessica Galli, Track and Field
2008 — Erin Popovich, Swimming