Michael Phelps voted AP Male Athlete of the Year
MICHAEL Phelps has been voted The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year in a poll of US editors and broadcasters.
The retired swimmer edged out basketball player LeBron James in voting announced yesterday, a fitting pay-off for winning four gold and two silver at the London Games, as well as recognition for becoming the most decorated Olympian ever.
Phelps finished with 40 votes in the media balloting, winning the award for the second time. James had 37, followed by track star Usain Bolt with 23.
Carl Lewis is the only other Olympic-related star to capture that AP award more than once, taking it in 1983 and ’84 for track and field. The only men honoured more than twice are golf’s Tiger Woods, cyclist Lance Armstrong and basketball’s Michael Jordan.
