And the Sportsman of the Year Award Goes To . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0800

And the Sportsman of the Year award goes to . . . Michael Phelps! After winning a record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and breaking seven world records (some were on relay teams) while doing so, this award really comes as no surprise. He seriously deserves it.

Every year Sports Illustrated presents the award to an athlete or an entire team it feels deserving, after a stellar year of athletic performance as well as sportsmanship. Phelps's quest for eight golds and the US relay team upset in the 100m relay moved swimming, an often marginalized sport, to center stage this Summer during the first week of the Olympic games. He astounded America with his high-calorie diet and his deal with McDonald's. Gold medals and big money endorsements aside, we all know Michael has made it as a sports legend because a video game featuring him is currently being developed in France. A swimming video game? This could be the push into the pool that moves swimming from the margins to the mainstream.

To see some memorable shots of Phelps at the Olympics or to revisit his awesome abs, just read more.

Congrats to Michael Phelps! And a little bit of history to contextualize his winning the title Sportsman of the Year. In 1972, the year Marks Spitz won seven gold medals at the games in Munich breaking the worlds record for most medals won during a single Olympics, tennis great Billie Jean King won the award. It just goes to show you how likable and real Phelps remains after winning all those golds!

Interested in reliving a few Olympic moments with Mr. Phelps? Then check out the gallery below.

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Favorite Olympian: Shawn Johnson

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Michael Phelps is truly a superlative athlete. He broke all kinds of records in Beijing and was voted Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. While you all voted him the fan-favorite Olympian, I think he has won awards aplenty. That is why when it comes to Olympians, 16-year-old Shawn Johnson with her tireless smile is the winner of the FitSugar Favorite Olympian.

Shawn won the gold medal for balance beam, the sliver medal in the all-around competition, silver in floor exercise, and helped the US win the team silver. Unlike many elite gymnasts, Shawn only trained about 20 to 25 hours a week instead of 40, so she could attend her public high school where she is on the honor roll. Even though she is not yet old enough to vote, this civic-minded Olympian made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Her athletic style kept us entertained throughout the Olympics, and this girl looks so healthy.

She might not be the new face of Subway or have a video game in the works, but Shawn is my favorite Olympian of 2008. I am anxious to see if she will compete in 2012 - do you think she will?

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