Phelps selected USOC sportsman of year

2009-01-23 02:35:32 GMT2009-01-23 10:35:32 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

Michael Phelps swims during his heat in the men's 200m butterfly at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska in this July 1, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps listens to a question during an interview at Yingdong Swimming Pool in Beijing January 13, 2009, during filming for a television commercial for Mazda. China's leading media and entertainment group, has signed a landmark agreement for Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to become the brand spokesperson for Mazda in China. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Multi-Olympic champion Michael Phelps was named the U.S. Olympic Committee's sportsmen of the year on Thursday.

The sportswoman award went to all-around gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin and swimmer Natalie Coughlin, who won six medals in Beijing.

Erin Popovich was selected Paralympian of the year and the U.S. men's volleyball team, which won a gold medal in the aftermath of the attack and killing of coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law, was team of the year.

Phelps broke Mark Spitz's record by winning eight gold medals in Beijing Olympics last summer.

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