U.S. Olympic Committee announces Best of March honors for Team USA Awards presented by Dow

Outstanding performances during the month of March earned artistic gymnast Gabby Douglas, Paralympic cyclist Joe Berenyi and the U.S. women’s water polo team Best of March honors for the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, the United States Olympic Committee announced today.

Douglas continued her quest to become the first reigning Olympic all-around champion to return to the Games since Nadia Comaneci in 1976-80 with wins at the AT&T American Cup and the Jesolo Trophy. At the AT&T American Cup, held March 5 in Newark, New Jersey, she posted a 60.165 in the all-around to hold off teammate Maggie Nichols for the crown. At the Jesolo Trophy on March 19 in Italy, she once again claimed the all-around title with a score of 59.650.

Berenyi won back-to-back gold medals at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, held March 17-20 in Montichiari, Italy. In the first two days of competition, he defended his world titles in the men’s C3 3-kilometer individual pursuit and 1K time trial to lead Team USA with the most medals at the final international track cycling event before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team went 8-0 at the Olympic Qualification Tournament, winning the gold medal and qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Team USA outscored its opponents, 123-35, including victories over Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, South Africa and twice against Spain.

Each National Governing Body may nominate one female, one male and one team per discipline. An internal nominating committee selects five nominees from both the male and female categories, and three from the team category 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 awards.teamusa.org.

In addition to Dow, the presenting sponsor, the Team USA Awards are supported by Coca-Cola, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Kellogg’s, Samsung and USG.

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