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| Michelle Kwan Photo by Michelle Harvath |
(3/10/04) — Five-time World champion Michelle Kwan has been selected as one of six finalists by the International Amateur Athletic Association for the 2004 American-International Athlete Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding athlete during 2003 competition. Last year's winner, Lance Armstrong, is a two-time previous award winner (2003 and 2000 Award) who again has made the finalist list, along with a group that includes Kwan, Ana Guevara, Michael Phelps, Saif Saeed Shaheen and Annika Sorenstam.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 23, at 11 a.m. in the Hall of Fame Room of the New York Athletic Club. A blue ribbon panel of international sports experts selects the winner based on its opinion of which athlete best personifies the qualities of greatness, including excellence in athletic accomplishment and performance, a high standard of sportsmanship and a sincere commitment to international cooperation among people of all nations.
"Since each of the six finalists demonstrated excellence in athletic performance along with the highest standard of sportsmanship, it will be a challenge to select only one winner from this list," said Herbert P. Douglas, Jr., president and founder of the IAAA. "Throughout 2003, performances by these finalists were the best examples of sportsmanship anywhere in the world."
Since the inception of the American-International Athlete Trophy in 1981, past winners have included Eric Heiden, Sabastian Coe, Mary Decker-Slaney, Edwin Moses, Carl Lewis, Said Aouita, Greg Louganis, Ben Johnson, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Roger Kingdom, Greg LeMond, Mike Powell, Vitaly Scherbo, Wang Junxia, Johann Olav Koss, Michael Johnson, Haile Gebrselassie, Marion Jones, Ian Thorpe and Lance Armstrong.
IAAA President Herbert P. Douglas, Jr. founded the organization following the death of his lifelong hero Jesse Owens. Every year The American- International Athlete Trophy honors an accomplished athlete who also exemplifies the ability and humanitarian qualities Owens represented. The American-International Athlete Trophy is housed in the New York Athletic Club and displayed in its second floor Hall of Fame Room.
Finalists for The American-International Athlete Trophy
Name, Sport, Country
Lance Armstrong, Cycling, USA
Ana Guevara, Athletics, Mexico
Michelle Kwan, Figure Skating, USA
Michael Phelps, Swimming, USA
Saif Saeed Shaheen, Athletics, Qatar
Annika Sorenstam, Golf, Sweden
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