Missy Franklin, Jessica Long, Maggie Steffens Represent Aquatic Sports in Women’s Sports Foundation Award Nominees

PHOENIX, Arizona, September 4. MISSY Franklin and Jessica Long are among the seven nominees for the Women's Sports Foundation's individual sportswoman of the year honor, while water polo player Maggie Steffens is up for the team sportswoman of the year award.

The Women's Sports Foundation will name the winner of the annual awards on October 17. the public can vote for their favorite athlete by going to the Women's Sports Foundation award page. Voting ends Thursday.

A few tidbits about the aquatic sports nominees:

Missy Franklin won five medals at the 2012 Olympics, including gold in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 800 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. Her other medal was a bronze in the 400 free relay. Franklin broke the world record in the 200 back and helped set the world mark in the 400 medley relay. In addition to her efforts in her Olympic debut, she broke the independent national high school record in the 200-yard freestyle and was voted FINA's World Swimmer of the Year. Last month, Franklin earned her first World Swimmer of the Year honor from Swimming World Magazine.

Jessica Long, currently competing in the London Paralympics, broke five world records at the USA Paralympic Trials in June and was a star at the Can-Am championships last December, winning six gold medals. She was the first disabled athlete to win the coveted AAU Sullivan Award in 2006 and was voted the Disabled Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine in 2006 and 2011.

Maggie Steffens was the MVP of the women's water polo tournament at the Olympics, scoring 21 goals over the course of two weeks in London. Her contributions were a large part of helping Team USA win the gold medal in their fourth Olympic attempt. She was also a vital part of the American victories at the 2011 Pan-American Games and the 2012 World League Super Final. She is entering her freshman year at Stanford University.

Other nominees include:

Individual sports:
Gabrielle Douglas, gymnastics
Allyson Felix, track
Tatyanna McFadden, Paralympic track
Lindsey Vonn, alpine skiing
Serena Williams, tennis

Team sports:
Katie Holloway, sitting volleyball
Destinee Hooker, volleyball
Alex Morgan, soccer
Keilani Ricketts, softball
Diana Taurasi, basketball
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings, beach volleyball

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use