Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas attends the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Olympic gymnasts Jordyn Wieber, Gabrielle Douglas, and Anastasia ‘Nastia’ Liukin attend the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas attends the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Recipient of the Annika Inspiration Award Lianna Thomas (L) and recipient of the Sportswoman of the Year Award for an individual sport Gabrielle Douglas pose at the 33rd annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas and Former professional tennis player Katrina Adams attend the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Recipient of the Sportswoman of the Year Award for an individual sport Gabrielle Douglas (C) poses with Arielle Hawkins (L) and Natalie Hawkins (R) at the 33rd annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas attend the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas (L) attend the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Olympic water polo player Brenda Villa, Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas and Olympic soccer player Heather Mitts attend the 33rd annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Recipient of the Sportswoman of the Year Award for an individual sport Gabrielle Douglas (C) speaks onstage with Anastasia ‘Nastia’ Liukin (L) and Jeanette Jenkins (R) at the 33rd annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas has won Sportswoman of the Year honors from the Women’s Sports Foundation.
The gymnast won the award Wednesday night, beating out Lindsey Vonn, London Olympians Serena Williams, Missy Franklin, Allyson Felix, and Paralympians Jessica Long and Tatyana McFadden. Douglas is the third gymnast to win the award, joining fellow Olympic gold medalists Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Nastia Liukin (2008). Liukin presented Douglas with the award, given to an individual athlete who exhibits exceptional performances.
Douglas won the all-around gold at the London Olympics, the fourth American — and first African-American — to win gymnastics’ biggest prize. She also helped the U.S. women to the team title, their first since 1996 and second overall.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
