Johnson, Van Dyken Head List In Salute To Olympic Athletes

Michael Johnson and Amy Van Dyken, who between then won six gold medals at the Atlanta Games, were among 110 athletes honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee on Wednesday as the top stars in their sports.

In addition to the male and female athletes of the year from 56 member sports bodies, the USOC also listed 30 teams of the year, including the gold medal-winning women’s Olympic teams in gymnastics, soccer, basketball and softball.

The USOC will announce its sportsman, sportswoman and team of the year Dec. 17-19. The team honor is new this year.

Picabo Street, the two-time World Cup downhill champion, again was named skiing’s top female athlete.

In Atlanta, Van Dyken became the first U.S. woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, taking the 100-meter butterfly and 50 freestyle and swimming legs on the winning 400 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.