Philippines, 07 Nov 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Filipino Boxer Pacquiao, Russian Pole Vaulter Isinbaeva Win Academy’s 2009 Athlete of the Year Honors

PhilBoxing.com




DAPHNE, Ala. — Two outstanding international athletes, each with strong cases to be considered the best-ever in their respective sports, have been named the 2009 United States Sports Academy’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbaeva were selected through a worldwide ballot that saw the public cast more than 1.9 million votes thanks to distribution through the websites of NBC Sports and USA Today.

The Academy’s international reach has always been strong, and that was reflected in the final vote results. Each of the top three finishers on the men’s and women’s sides hailed from countries other than the United States.

The Athlete of the Year competition consisted of 12 male and 12 female candidates from around the world, representing a dozen countries. And as the resumes of the runners-up show, the field had plenty of tremendous candidates.

Finishing second in the men’s balloting was Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, who won his record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, less than a month after completing the career Grand Slam at the French Open. In third place was another amazing 2009 performer, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Already the defending Olympic champion in the events, Bolt was stunning at the world track and field championships by lowering his already world-record times in the 100 and 200. Bolt won the 100 in 9.58 seconds and the 200 in 19.19, lowering each mark by a stunning .11 seconds.

Still, it’s hard to fault sports fans for choosing Pacquiao in 2009. “Pac-Man” became the first boxer to win titles in seven different weight classes, claiming the light welterweight title over Ricky Hatton in May before winning the welterweight title over Miguel Cotto in November. A highly anticipated match with American Floyd Mayweather looms in early 2010. Pacquiao has a career record of 50-3-2 with 38 knockouts.

Isinbaeva, 27, says goodbye to 2009 with the outdoor (16 feet, 6 inches or 5.06 meters) and indoor (16 feet, 4 inches or 5 meters) world records. That shouldn’t be a surprise, considering she has broken 27 total during her career. But this year she became the first woman to clear 16 feet indoors, an amazing accomplishment. Among her other honors in 2009 were the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year and the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports.

Finishing second in the women’s balloting was Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, who won her fourth straight Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Player of the Year crown and fourth straight Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Kenyan distance runner Linet Masai placed third after winning the 10,000 meters at the world track and field championships and leading her team to first place in the World Cross Country Championships.

The Athlete of the Year ballot is the culmination of the yearlong Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the globe. The Athlete of the Month is selected by an international voting committee comprised of media members and representatives of sports organizations and governing bodies.

The United States Sports Academy is an independent, nonprofit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports. For more information, call 251-626-3303 or visit the Academy’s website www.ussa.edu.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Warriors Beat Boston on the Road, 118-112; Suns Too Hot for the Heat at Home
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 07 Nov 2024
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Pumped Up for Norfolk Homecoming Against Gustavo Lemos
    , Thu, 07 Nov 2024
  • SUBRIEL MATIAS - ROBERTO RAMÍREZ JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT RUMBLE HEADLINES LIVE BOXING CARD ON PPV.COM!
    , Thu, 07 Nov 2024
  • BOOTS: FIGHTING IN PHILLY IS A BLESSING
    , Thu, 07 Nov 2024
  • Boxing’s next great boxing trainer Julian Chua is a rising star in the gym, ring and corner
    , Thu, 07 Nov 2024
  • The Past Week in Action 4 November 2024: Foster Outpoints Conceicao; Schofield Defeats Giron; Fundora Stops Alaniz to Become Undisputed Fly Champ
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 06 Nov 2024
  • Yoshiki Takei: Robin to Inoue's Batman
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 06 Nov 2024
  • THURSDAY: Osleys Iglesias-Petro Ivanov Super Middleweight Clash to Stream LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
    , Wed, 06 Nov 2024
  • IBA President called Thomas Bach to apologize for gender scandal at the Olympics following medical documents of Imane Khelif that have been published
    , Wed, 06 Nov 2024
  • Split-T Management and Trifon Petrov Sign 2024 Olympic Bronze Medal Winner Cristian Javier Pinales
    , Wed, 06 Nov 2024
  • Bivol 142 Punches, Beterbiev 137 Punches, Why Controversy?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Tue, 05 Nov 2024
  • Warriors Win First of Heavy Road Outings, Whip Washington Wizards, 125-112
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 05 Nov 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
    , Tue, 05 Nov 2024
  • Keyshawn Davis Kicks Off Norfolk Fight Week with Visit to Local Elementary School
    , Tue, 05 Nov 2024
  • Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Guatemala and Laos join World Boxing as membership grows to 55 countries World Boxing approves applications from four new members at its second annual Congress in Colorado US
    , Tue, 05 Nov 2024
  • LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT TALENT CONOR WALLACE SIGNS LONG-TERM PROMOTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH MATCHROOM, GOLDSTAR AND TASMAN FIGHTERS
    , Mon, 04 Nov 2024
  • Torre to play simul chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 04 Nov 2024
  • "Worcester Championship Boxing" results: Castro dominates Whitley
    , Mon, 04 Nov 2024
  • Tiu, Siano win in Oroquieta City standard chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 04 Nov 2024
  • Foster The Champion: O’Shaquie Foster Beats Robson Conceição to Reclaim Junior Lightweight Crown
    , Sun, 03 Nov 2024
  • AND STILL UNDEFEATED FLOYD SCHOFIELD DEFEATS RENE TELLEZ GIRÓN IN FIREFIGHT TO MAINTAIN WBA INTERNATIONAL TITLE
    , Sun, 03 Nov 2024
  • Toledo-Xignex Trojans still Southern Division champion
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 03 Nov 2024
  • Fight Day Media Hub Robson Conceição vs. O'Shaquie Foster 2
    , Sun, 03 Nov 2024
  • Team USA Secures Three Gold Medals at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships
    , Sun, 03 Nov 2024
  • GM Quizon rules 13th edition of Kamatyas Rapid Open Chess Tournament
    , Sun, 03 Nov 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.