U.S. Olympic Committee Announces Best of May Finalists for Team USA Awards Presented by Dow

The United States Olympic Committee today announced the finalists for the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of May, which recognize the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes from last month. Fans are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through midnight Tuesday, June 6.

A total of nine sports – archery, Para cycling, paratriathlon, Para track and field, rugby, track and field, sitting volleyball, triathlon and water skiing – are represented among the 13 finalists across men’s, women’s and team categories.

Each of the finalists automatically qualify for consideration for the 2017 Team USA Awards presented by Dow Best of the Year. Their collective accomplishments tell the inspiring story of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes year-round. A complete list of monthly finalists from the 2016-17 qualification period can be found at TeamUSA.org. The 2017 Best of the Year Awards will be held in December.

In addition to Dow, the presenting sponsor, the Team USA Awards are supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods and USG.

MAY FINALISTS

Male Athlete of the Month

Perry Baker (Daytona Beach, Florida), Rugby

Became the first American to top the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series scoring chart with 57 tries after leading the final two legs of the Series in tries scored (8) and helping the U.S. place fifth overall.

Jamie Brown (Carlsbad, California), Paratriathlon

Won the men’s PTS4 class at the ITU World Paratriathlon Yokohama, finishing more than one minute ahead of the runner-up finisher in 1:05:35 to improve to No. 2 in the world rankings.

Freddie de los Santos (Hopewell Junction, New York), Para Cycling

Claimed his first-ever international win in the MH5 road race at the UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup, which marked his fourth world cup podium of the month.

Nate Smith (McCordsville, Indiana), Water Skiing

Won his third straight men’s slalom title – and fourth career title – at the 58th Masters Water Ski Tournament, and set a pending world record of three buoys at 43 feet off to win the Swiss Pro Slalom.

Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Georgia), Track and Field

Set world leading, meet, Hayward Field and IAAF Diamond League records to win the men’s triple jump at the Nike Prefontaine Classic with a mark of 18.11 meters – the fourth-best jump in track and field history.

Female Athlete of the Month

Tori Bowie (Sandhill, Mississippi), Track and Field

Set IAAF Diamond League, meet and Hayward Field records, while upsetting the defending Olympic champion in the women’s 200-meter at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in 21.77 – the fastest women’s time ever recorded before June.

Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida), Water Skiing

Placed second in women’s jumping and third in women’s slalom at the 58th Masters Water Ski Tournament, while also winning the women’s slalom title at the Swiss Pro Slalom.

Chelsea McClammer (Richland, Washington), Para Track and Field

Set three world records in the T53 400-, 800- and 5,000-meter events at the Daniel Jutzeler Memorial meet in Arbon, Switzerland.

Jill Walsh (Syracuse, New York), Para Cycling

Won four medals – including three golds – at UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup stops in Maniago, Italy, and Ostend, Belgium, to claim the lead in the overall world cup rankings.

Katie Zaferes (Hampstead, Maryland), Triathlon

Claimed silver at ITU World Triathlon Yokohama – marking her ninth career World Triathlon Series podium and first of 2017 – to claim the lead in the overall WTS standings.

Team of the Month

U.S. Women’s Recurve Team, Archery

Defeated three top-10 teams to claim its first world cup medal in nearly two years, taking silver at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai.

Men’s Eagles Sevens, Rugby

Earned Team USA’s best finish in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series history, finishing fifth overall after claiming marquee wins over the reigning Olympic champion, Fiji, and HSBC Series champion, South Africa.

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team, Sitting Volleyball

Claimed the silver medal at the World ParaVolley World Super 6 tournament, propelled by standout performances from tournament MVP and best spiker Heather Erickson, and best server Monique Burkland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Each National Governing Body may nominate one female, one male and one team per sport discipline. An internal nominating committee selects finalists to advance to the voting round. Votes received from NGB representatives and select members of the media account for 50 percent of the final tally, with the other half determined by online fan voting via TeamUSA.org/Awards.

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