US Women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe named Sports Illustrated's 'Sportsperson of the Year'

AP logo
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
US soccer star Megan Rapinoe is 'Sportsperson of the Year'
US soccer star Megan Rapinoe is 'Sportsperson of the Year'

U.S. national team star Megan Rapinoe has been named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

Rapinoe, FIFA Player of the Year and a two-time World Cup winner, including this year's tournament in France, was selected for dominating "the world's game, on the world's stage, under attack by a world leader."

SEE ALSO | 7 of this year's World Cup champions have ties to North Carolina

The magazine says Rapinoe is just the fourth woman in the award's 66-year history to win the honor unaccompanied, calling it "a remarkable athletic achievement and a reflection of entrenched gender biases."

Her pose, arms outstretched, chin up, head tilted back slightly after scoring the World Cup-winning goal against the Netherlands, represents one of the signature sports images of 2019.

Related Topics