USA Today
Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbaeva and boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines have been named the 2009 United States Sports Academy's Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
Isinbaeva and Pacquiao were selected through a worldwide online ballot that saw the public cast more than 1.9 million votes.
Isinbaeva set world records in both the outdoor at 16 feet, 6 inches and indoor at 16 feet, 4 inches, becoming the first woman to clear 16 feet indoors.
Pacquiao became the first boxer to win titles in seven different weight classes, claiming the light welterweight title over Ricky Hatton in May, then winning the welterweight title over Miguel Cotto in November. Pacquiao has a career record of 50-3-2 with 38 knockouts.
The Athlete of the Year competition consisted of 12 male and 12 female candidates from around the world, representing a dozen countries. Each of the top three finishers on the men's and women's sides hailed from countries other than the United States, reflecting the Academy's international reach.
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 Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Already the defending Olympic champion in the events, Bolt stunned the sports landscape 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 .11 seconds.
Finishing second in the women's balloting was Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, who won her fourth straight 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 USSA's year-long Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the globe. The USSA 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.
Source: usatoday.com
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