Associated Press Athlete of The Year

Associated Press Athlete Of The Year

The first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press (AP) in 1931. At a time when women in sports were not given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete. The awards are voted on annually by a panel of AP sports editors from across the United States.

A large majority of the winners, as one would expect from an award given by an American organization, have been Americans (this bias is also reflected in the list of recipients of the Sportsman of the Year award given by the American magazine Sports Illustrated). However, non-Americans are also eligible for the honor, and have won on a few occasions, but the list of recipients reflects the award's American perspective.

Read more about Associated Press Athlete Of The Year:  List of Award Winners

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