Athlete of the Year

Athlete of the Year is an award given by various sports organizations for the athlete whom they have determined to be deserving of such recognition.

Definition of "athlete"

For etymology of "athlete", see Sportsperson

• In many nations, an "athlete" is someone who participates in the field of "athletics", i.e. track and field
• In other nations — including Canada and the United States — an "athlete" (or "sportsperson") is a person who participates in any sport (including track and field).

Similar names for the award

The awards are also sometimes called player of the year, most valuable player (MVP), sportsperson (sportsman or sportswoman) of the year, or Mr./Ms. X sport. For example at the high-school level, several American states choose a Mr. Basketball (e.g., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin). Such awards — general and one-sport-only — are common at the high-school, college (university), and professional levels.

Various athlete of the year awards

Athletics (track and field)

• World's Greatest Athlete (decathlon)
• IAAF World Athlete of the Year (International Athletic Foundation of the International Association of Athletics Federations)
• European Athlete of the Year Trophy
• Track & Field News Athlete of the Year

All sports

• Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year (Laureus World Sports Academy)
• Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
• L'Équipe Champion of Champions Award
• Austrian Sportspersonality of the year
• Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (female athlete of the year)
• Lionel Conacher Award (male athlete of the year)
• Lou Marsh Trophy (male athlete of the year)
• Velma Springstead Trophy (female athlete of the year)
• Jamaica Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year
• Associated Press Athlete of the Year (AP)
• Best Female Athlete ESPY Award
• Best Male Athlete ESPY Award
• Sporting News Sportsman of the Year
• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
• United Press International Athlete of the Year Award (UPI)
• NCAA Sportsmanship Award (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
• NCAA Woman of the Year Award (student-athlete)
• Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award^[1]
• Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award^[1]
• Atlantic Coast Conference Athlete of the Year (ACC)

One sport (other than track and field)

• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year (U.S. Soccer Federation) (association football)
• Leigh Matthews Trophy (Australian Football League) (Australian rules football)
• Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Player Award (Canadian football)
• National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (American football)
• Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
• MLB Most Valuable Player Award (Major League Baseball)
• Players Choice Awards Player of the Year (Major League Baseball)
• Sporting News Player of the Year (Major League Baseball)
• Sporting News MLB Athlete of the Decade (Major League Baseball)
• ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year (Atlantic Coast Conference) (college/university)
• Baseball America High School Player of the Year Award

See also

• Rookie of the Year (award)

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b} The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards — awarded from 1993 to 2001 — were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards.