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The Women’s Sports Foundation Monday named Berkeley’s record-setting swimmer Natalie Coughlin and pro basketball player Lisa Leslie as their 2003 Sportswomen of the Year. The awards honor team and individual sport athletes for their achievements from August 2002 through July 2003 and were presented at a ceremony Monday night at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. 

The Foundation called Coughlin “the most feared and versatile female swimmer to hit the pools in decades.” 

As a member of the UC Berkeley swim team, she was running a 102-degree fever in July when she led the U.S. team to gold and silver medals at the FINA World Championships in the 400-meter free and medley relays. 

Named the 2003 NCAA Swimmer of the Year at the group’s championships, where she won the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard fly, Coughlin has broken six world records, 34 American records and 11 Cal records.  

In August, 2002, she won five titles: the 100- and 200-meter events in both freestyle and backstroke and the 100-meter fly. In the 200-meter backstroke, she broke a 16-year-old American record. 

In all, Coughlin set three world, seven American and three NCAA records during the 2002-2003 season, including the world record as the first woman to complete the 100-meter backstroke in under a minute (59.58)—all at the age of 21. 

“I feel honored to be receiving the Sportswoman of the Year Award,” Coughlin told the Foundation. “It gives me great pride to be mentioned with so many extraordinary women and to be rewarded for my accomplishments. It has certainly been a successful year for many. I would like to thank the Women's Sports Foundation for their continual support.” 

Leslie, who received the Sportswoman of the Year Team Award for the second time, finished the 2003 WNBA season in the Top 10 in scoring (18.4 points per game, fourth), rebounding (10.0 rebounds per game, third), blocked shots (2.74 blocks per game, second) and recorded 13 double-doubles. 

The Sportswoman of the Year Award was originally awarded to a professional athlete and an amateur athlete until it was modified in 1993 to honor one outstanding female athlete who competes in an individual sport and one who plays a team sport. 

Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the well-being and leadership skills of girls and women through sports and fitness. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y.