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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Jan. 17, 2008 – The U.S. Women’s World Championships Team that won the team world title was selected as the 2007 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year for its accomplishments at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
“We appreciate the U.S. Olympic Committee’s recognition of our women’s outstanding accomplishments at the World Championships,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “We believe that their incredible performance in 2007 has set the stage for a great Olympic year.”
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The members of the U.S. Women’s Team were: Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo.; Shawn
Liukin claimed the gold medal on balance beam and the silver on the uneven bars, bringing her career world medal total to nine (four gold and five silver) and tying the mark of nine world medals held by Shannon Miller, who has earned more world and Olympic medals than any other U.S. gymnast (16 total). Sacramone earned the silver medal on floor exercise and the bronze on vault, bringing her career world medal tally to seven (two gold, three silver and two bronze).
Sprinter Tyson Gay, swimmer Katie Hoff and wheelchair track and field athlete Jessica Galli were chosen as the SportsMan, SportsWoman and Paralympian of the Year, respectively. Swimmer Michael Phelps and track and field athlete Allyson Felix were recognized as the recipients of the first-ever USOC Outstanding Performance of the Year award.
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.
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