Betsey Armstrong Named FINA's Top Female Water Polo Athlete For 2010
1/7/2011 12:00:00 AM
Huntington Beach, CA - January 7 - Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) has been named the top female water polo athlete by FINA for 2010, the federation announced earlier today. Armstrong, the starting goalkeeper for the USA Women's Senior National Team, led the squad to Gold Medals at the FINA World League Super Final and FINA World Cup. Armstrong joined USA Swimming's Ryan Lochte as the only other American honored by FINA in their annual awards.
2010 was another strong year for the United States and their netminder. Armstrong delivered a key stop in an extra time shootout to help defeat Australia for the Gold Medal at the World League Super Final in La Jolla, California this past July. During the tourney she piled up 55 saves to earn top goalkeeper honors. The Michigan native followed that performance with 47 saves at the World Cup in New Zealand including a Gold Medal match where she held Australia to just three goals, including a scoreless first half.
“Betsey had a phenomenal year, she’s the leader of our defense, and in my opinion the best goalie in the world,” said USA Head Coach Adam Krikorian. “What makes her as good as she is are all those things people don’t see. She has a great work ethic, stays humble, and displays excellent leadership. I think she would be the first person to say that an award like this is truly a reflection on our well balanced team, and that team first attitude is just another reason why she is such an important part of our program.”
Recognized as a finalist for the Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year, Armstrong was named top goalkeeper of the 2010 Top 40 in leading her team, the New York Athletic Club, to the title. Named Swimming World Magazine's top female water polo player of 2009, Armstrong has two World Championship Gold Medals to her credit (2007, 2009), and an Olympic Silver Medal (2008).
After an initial selection of athletes made by the editorial team of the “FINA Aquatics World Magazine”, determined by the results achieved in FINA or continental events, a ballot paper was sent to all the FINA Family (Bureau, Committee and Commission Members, and the 202 National Federations in the five continents), as well as to media representatives attending FINA events, in order to choose one athlete per discipline and gender. Moreover, each voter was free to indicate an athlete’s name that was not part of the proposed list.
At the deadline of December 31, 2010 and with more than 570 votes received, the following nine outstanding athletes were voted as the best of the best in 2010:
SWIMMING
Men – Ryan Lochte (USA): winner of seven medals at the FINA World Swimming
Championships (25m), in Dubai (UAE)
Women – Therese Alshammar (SWE): overall winner of the FINA/ARENA
Swimming World Cup, two medals at the FINA World Swimming Championships
(25m), in Dubai (UAE)
WATER POLO
Men – Vanja Udovicic (SRB): FINA World Cup and FINA World League champion
Women – Betsey Armstrong (USA): FINA World Cup and FINA World League
champion
DIVING
Men – Patrick Hausding (GER): Silver medallist at the FINA World Cup (3m),
second overall at the FINA World Series (10m synchro)
Women – Ruolin Chen (CHN): Overall winner at the FINA World Series (10m and
10m synchro), Gold (10m synchro) and silver (10m) at the FINA World Cup
SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
Natalia Ishchenko (RUS): Gold medallist at the FINA World Cup (solo and team)
OPEN WATER SWIMMING
Men – Valerio Cleri (ITA): Gold (10km) and silver (25km) at the FINA World Open
Water Swimming Championships
Women – Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA): Bronze (5km) at the FINA World Open
Water Swimming Championships, overall winner of the FINA 10km Marathon
Swimming World Cup.
Women's National Team