Phelps and Patterson Win Honors

Unlike most college freshmen, Michael Phelps brought an Olympic gold medal to his public speaking class. Next time, he can bring the U.S. Olympic Committee’s SportsMan of the year award he won Wednesday.

Carly Patterson, the Athens women’s all-around gymnastics gold medalist, won the SportsWoman of the year award. The women’s softball team, which was 9-0 in Athens and outscored opponents, 51-1, won the USOC’s team award.

Phelps’ feats outweighed his arrest in November on suspicion of driving while impaired. He pleaded guilty and got 18 months’ probation. “What has happened has been a big learning experience and a big mistake I made,” he said during a conference call with reporters. “I am extremely honored to win this award.”

Phelps is taking classes at Michigan and training for this year’s world championships. He said he was two-tenths of a second off the American record in the 200 individual medley during a recent training swim and plans to compete in some new events, which he wouldn’t specify.

Patterson recently returned to training after a post-Olympic whirl of appearances and hasn’t formulated a competition schedule.

“It was kind of hard to get back in the groove of things,” she said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished my ultimate goal, but who’s to say I won’t go back? I’ll see how everything works out.”

Lisa Fernandez of Long Beach, captain of the softball team, said she was considering competing through the 2008 Beijing Games. She plans to tour with a new professional league this summer.

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-- Helene Elliott