Age: 29
Hometown: Aliso Viejo, CA
US SAILING TEAM: 1990-2000
Member: Dana Point Yacht Club
Dana Hills High School, graduated 1988
University of California-Irvine, graduated '93, BA
US SAILING's Olympic Sailing Committee recognized veteran boardsailor Butler as the sport's 1999 U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Female Athlete of the Year. Bestowed annually, the USOC Athlete of the Year award is based on outstanding performance in competition. As US SAILING's Female Athlete of the Year, Butler will be considered for the overall USOC Female Athlete of the Year Award. Slated for announcement on January 8, 2000, the USOC award winner will be selected from the Athletes of the Year recognized by each Olympic sport's national governing body.
Already a three-time Athlete of the Year ('94, '93, '91), Butler was recognized this year for her
dominance of women's boardsailing in the U.S. This summer she won the Mistral Women's gold medal at
the 1999 Pan Am Games in Canada where her toughest competition came from long-time rival and defending
Pan Am Games Gold Medalist Caroll-Ann Alie of Canada. The two went head-to-head trading the lead back
and forth throughout the early part of the 11-race series, with Butler finally breaking the tie on the
fourth day of racing. Ultimately, both sat out the final race of the series when their gold and silver
medal positions were mathematically secured, Butler with 10 points to Alie's 13. The win secured Butler
her third Pan Am Games medal. Having won gold in '91 and bronze in '95, she established a new record
for U.S. medals won at the Pan Am Games (in sailing) by a woman.
At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in October, Butler's flawless performance in the 10-board Mistral
Women's division enabled her to sit out one heat of the 14-race series and still win the event.
A two-time Olympian ('96, '92), Butler will now become the first woman sailor to represent the
U.S.A. at three consecutive Olympics.
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