United States women’s national soccer team star Megan Rapinoe, has been named as Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.
The magazine selected Megan Rapinoe as the athlete whose performance embodied “the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement” and covered her year in a feature written by Jenny Vrentas.
Rapinoe who is the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s co-captain helped led the team to victory at the Women’s World Cup in France.
Speaking in her interview openly lesbian Rapinoe, spoke about the importance of standing up for what she feels is right.
“The feeling of not standing up when I know something is wrong is so much worse than whatever happens if I stand up,” she said.
Rapinoe is only the fourth woman in the award’s 66-year history to win it unaccompanied, without anyone else being named sportsperson of the year alongside her.
The first was Chris Evert in 1976, while Mary Decker won it in 1983 after sweeping the 1500 and 3000 meters at the World Championships and Serena Williams won it 2015.