Fort Collins swimmer Erin Popovich was named paralympian of the year for 2008 on Thursday by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
At her third Paralympic Games in Beijing, Popovich collected four gold medals and two silver, bringing her career total to 14 gold and five silver.
“It’s a huge honor,” Popovich said. “Beijing was amazing. To be able to compete in the Water Cube was an experience in itself. To be picked out of all the great accomplishments the U.S. delegation had in the Paralympics is very exciting for me.”
Popovich, a Colorado State graduate, also was the 2004 USOC paralympian of the year.
In other USOC awards announced Thursday, swimmer Michael Phelps was named sportsman of the year, swimmer Natalie Coughlin and gymnast Nastia Liukin were co-winners of the sportswoman award, and the men’s volleyball team was named team of the year.
John Meyer, The Denver Post
