Nastia Liukin with her all-around gold medal
© FIG Photo

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2008 – 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, was named the individual recipient of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2008 Sportswoman of the Year Award, which was announced tonight at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. Liukin, who won five medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, is the second gymnast to win the award and the first since Mary Lou Retton in 1984.

“Winning this award is a great honor for Nastia and we are extremely proud of her,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Nastia is the epitome of a true sportswoman. Her results reflect her hard work, dedication and love of gymnastics, and her style reflects great dignity and grace.”

Liukin was one of 10 women nominated for the individual award, which was based on athletic achievements from Aug. 1, 2007, through Aug. 24, 2008. The other nine finalists were: Mao Asada, figure skating; Veronica Campbell-Brown, track; Natalie Coughlin, swimming; Ashley Fiolek, motocross; Allison Fisher, billiards; Yelena Isinbayeva, pole vault; Lorena Ochoa, golf; Lindsey Vonn, downhill skiing; and Rebecca Ward, fencing. The Women’s Sports Foundation also has a team award.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin won a total of five medals, the most by any female gymnast in 2008, to tie the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympics, 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. In 2007, she helped the USA win the team gold medal at the 2007 World Championships, where she also won the balance beam title and was second on the uneven bars. Liukin has a total of nine world medals to her credit, which ties her with Miller for career world medals. Liukin is coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988, including two gold. She trains at WOGA.

The first Sportswoman of the Year Award was presented in 1980 and was split into professional and amateur categories. The Women’s Sports Foundation combined the two categories into an individual award in 1993 and added a team award. Retton was the amateur winner in 1984.

Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year Award recipients

Individual
2008 – Nastia Liukin
2007 – Lorena Ochoa
2006 – Melanie Troxel
2005 – Erin Popovich
2004 – Annika Sorenstam
2003 – Natalie Coughlin
2002 – Sarah Hughes
2001 – Stacy Dragila
2000 – Jenny Thompson
1999 – Juli Inkster
1998 – Michelle Kwan
1997 – Gail Devers
1996 – Amy Van Dyken
1995 – Bonnie Blair
1994 – Bonnie Blair
1993 – Julie Krone

Team
2008 – Jessica Mendoza
2007 – Monica Abbott
2006 – Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh
2005 – Cat Osterman
2004 – Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh
2003 – Lisa Leslie
2002 – Sue Bird
2001 – Lisa Leslie
2000 – Serena & Venus Williams- Team
1999 – Mia Hamm
1998 – Cynthia Cooper
1997 – Mia Hamm
1996 – Teresa Edwards
1995 – Rebecca Lobo
1994 – Lisa Fernandez
1993 – Sheryl Swoopes

Professional
1992 – Pat Bradley
1991 – Meg Mallon
1990 – Paula Newby-Fraser
1989 – Steffi Graf
1988 – Susan Butcher
1987 – Susan Butcher
1986 – Lynette Woodard
1985 – Libby Riddles
1984 – Martina Navratilova
1983 – Martina Navratilova
1982 – Martina Navratilova
1981 – Chris Evert
1980 – Tracy Austin

Amateur
1992 – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1991 – Jean Driscoll
1990 – Lori Norwood
1989 – Janet Evans
1988 – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1987 – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1986 – Debi Thomas
1985 – Michele Mitchell
1984 – Joan Benoit
1984 – Mary Lou Retton
1983 – Mary Decker
1982 – Mary Decker
1981 – Tracy Caulkins
1980 – Mary Decker