At the end of every year, we ask our readers to look back and choose Outsports' Sportsman of the Year. This year, the choices are dominated by Olympians. In a year when few athletes in the "Big Four" sports stood out for their athletic accomplishments, it's largely the performances of athletes in Beijing that caught our eye. These are our nominees. Voting will run until Dec. 26.

Anti-Prop 8 athletes. While most athletes prefer to stay away from political positioning, several athletes took pro-marriage stands in the weeks leading up to the election. Magic Johnson recorded a phone call that was distributed to hundreds of thousands of voters; Former NBA players Doug Christie and Charles Barkley both made affirming statements; And Steve Young and his wife issued a statement of support for the fight against the proposition.

Usain Bolt. After Michael Phelps was done in the pool, this young Jamaican dazzled the world with three world record performances, including eclipsing Michael Johnson’s 200m record that many thought would stand for decades. His fun-loving spirit turned off some, but his exuberance captured the hearts of many more.

Lauren Lappin. In an Olympics where 64% of openly gay athletes won a medal, Lappin was the most vocal about her sexual orientation; While other out athletes have quietly avoided the subject of their sexuality, Lappin has embraced it. According to Pat Griffin, the silver medalist in softball sees herself as an agent of change; Quite a breath of fresh air.

Matthew Mitcham. In one day, Mitcham went from obscurity to super-stardom when he became the only non-Chinese person to win diving gold in Beijing, recording the highest-scoring dive in Olympic history in the process. Openly gay long before he went to Beijing, he immediately became a beacon of excellence for gay athletes.

Candace Parker. What a year for Parker. She won the NCAA title with Tennessee in April, and she won many player-of-the-year and athlete-of-the-year honors. She was the first player selected in the WNBA draft and, as a Los Angeles Spark, in June she became only the second woman in WNBA history to dunk the ball. She went on to win both the WNBA Rookie of the Year and League MVP awards. If any team-sport athlete has ever had a better year than that, we’d love to hear about it.

Michael Phelps. Phelps was, for many, the face of the Olympic Games. He set a record with eight gold medals and graced the covers of many magazines, including being named Sports Illustrated’s sportsman of the year. He also inspired a greater interest in the Olympics among gays, as we heard from gay men in many cities spending a Saturday night to watch him make history.

Thank you, Cyd. The choices were all outstanding for their feats and stances on issues of importance. Matthew Mitcham stood out from the rest. As a gay man, I take incredible pride in Mitcham's openness, confidence, and terrific athletic ability! What a role model!

We also welcome comments here on our choices or on any we might have left out.

Matthew Mitcham was by far the Outsports Person of the Year. Take away his sexuality - just looking at what he accomplished in Beijing, and it was nothing short of spectacular. A stunning performance, a tremendous athlete, and a heart of Gold... he's my vote!

its a toss up between Phelps and the Anti-Prop 8 athletes. it was a difficult one but i voted for Phelps on the basis of sporting merit.

i agree with matt mitchum as our choice

You know I briefly considered Michael Phelps because he accomplished something that I'm not so sure we'll ever seen anyone do again - at least in our lifetimes. But the reason I gave Matthew Mitcham the nod, was that he wasn't expected to beat the heavily favoured Chinese... I think we all expected Phelps to win all Gold... now should we punish Phelps for being so successful, no... but I just think the bigger story is the little unknown kid from Down Under who soared to the top and upset the Chinese in their own backyard with some magnificant diving.

As I posted before, I voted for Matt Mitcham, and he deserves to be "Outsports' Person of the Year." I want to take this opportunity to lobby against Michael Phelps. The sports achievements of Phelps are well known to all. He deserves great acclaim for his hard work, dedication, and his Horatio Alger type story. Since winning those gold medals, what has Phelps done apart from receiving lucrative endorsement deals that will earn him millions and having a book come out that admittedly can offer others a blueprint for achieving success, but in all probability was not written by him?

In the years to come Phelps will remain in the news, when it comes to speculation on whether or not he will participate in future Olympics, whether future athletes will match or break his records, or as a commentator at future Olympic games. Phelps has achieved a great deal at a very young age, and I wish him well. But he has not used his bully pulpit for any cause other than his own welfare. I applaud his athleticism, and he has every right to bask in his glory and parlay his successes in the pool to career advantages. It is, after all, the American way!

But why should he be Outsports' Person of the Year? That title should be given to someone, who has outstanding athletic ability, but who also supports issues at the heart of our community. Matt Mitcham deserves that title.

As for an Olympian, Phelps and all of us might emulate, I nominate Johann Olav Koss, the Norwegian speed skater gold medalist, who went on to become a physician and used his fame to highlight issues of global importance.

Johann Koss