Since 1954, Sports Illustrated has faced the annual challenge of choosing its
Sportsman of the Year. The award is bestowed upon the person or persons who
symbolize in character and performance the ideals of sportsmanship. Here are six
athletes who have had dominant performances this year. Click on any image below to check out their
athlete
pages, complete with photo galleries, feature stories and video clips. And be
sure to browse the Sportsman archive and covers galleries. This year's Sportsman
of the Year will be revealed in the Dec. 17 issue of Sports Illustrated and
celebrated on Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions television special,
broadcast Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Photographs by Simon Bruty, Manny Millan,
Tom DiPace, David E. Klutho, Bob Martin, John W. McDonough