NEW YORK, April 14 (UPI) -- World record swimmer Michael Phelps is the winner of the Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 2003.
The 18-year-old Baltimore native won the honor Tuesday.
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Phelps was selected over basketball players LeBron James and Diana Taurasi, track star Philippa Raschker and speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno.
The teenage winner set world records in five events at the World Championships in Spain last year. He will compete in the summer Olympics in Athens.
James, who now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association, was nominated for his achievements at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
