Courtney Kupets - Wow, what an athlete. As soon as I think she has done it all, she does something else. On October 13, in the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom beneath their famous crystal chandeliers, she was honored as the 2009 recipient of the Individual Sportswoman of the Year Award by the Women's Sports Foundation. I have to share with you the atmosphere and prominence of this event for you to fully understand how huge this award was for Courtney, her family, college gymnastics and the University of Georgia.

As someone who has attended a lot of banquets (and no one attends more than coaches, sportscasters and successful athletes), I can honestly say this one was the best and most enjoyable athlete-recognition banquets that I have ever attended. Really, the College Football Hall of Fame folks need to take a lesson from the women who ran this affair. I was so captivated; I never looked at my watch once!

Every minute of the two and a half hour event was entertaining. There was cheering, standing ovations, a 60-year-old Olympic athlete at the podium in her swimsuit, NBC's finest journalists, and the best female athletes in the world coming out of every portal in the magnificent ballroom. I did not want to take a moment to savor the chicken en croute, asparagus risotto and baked Alaska, for fear of missing something.

The evening began with a welcome from the current president of the Foundation, Jessica Mendoza. Jessica, an Olympic medalist and softball superstar, spoke of the mission of the foundation and the tremendous support they have received, noting the attendance of celebrities, journalists and movers and shakers in women's sports.

Then came the Grand March of Athletes, but grand is not a big enough adjective…it was grandiose. Included in the march was a Who’s Who of female athletes, representing all sports. Laila Ali (Boxing), Brandi Chastain (soccer), Dominique Dawes (gymnastics), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (track and Field), Michelle Kwan (figure skating), Annika Sorenstam (golf), Shawn Johnson (gymnastics), Nancy Lieberman (basketball), Lyn St. James (auto racing), and Melanie Oudin (tennis) just to name some of the over 50 athletes to waltz, twirl, flip and prance onto the stage. The culmination was Billie Jean King herself, bringing all the athletes together in unison for a “Go Girl Go” cheer.

Billie Jean - what a visionary! She began the Women's Sports Foundation 35 years ago with a mission to inspire girls and women to get physically active and to lead healthy, successful lives. When the announcement was made two months ago that Billie Jean would be the first female to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama, the audience roared and provided her with a much-deserved standing ovation. Billie Jean brought down the house with her stories of women who have made history in sports.

The renowned journalist Cokie Roberts addressed the audience, “I have spent many a dreary evening in this ballroom,” she said, “But tonight it is anything but dreary or boring. These women have gone from sweaty to gorgeous and I must say they clean up a heck of a lot better than the men.”

Dick Ebersol spoke about his career with NBC sports, and he added, “I more than any other man, have benefited from Title IX.” He explained that our female athletes bring home more than 50% of our country’s medals and that he, for one, appreciates the work of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Mr. Ebersole commended Billie Jean King for “being fearless” in what she does for female athletes.

Two hours later, it was time for the awards: The Billie Jean King Contribution Award, the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award and the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Award both for individual and team sports. Not to diminish the importance of the other award recipients, but this blog is about Courtney, so it is time to get to her.

Yes, our own Courtney Kupets was chosen as the 2009 Sportswoman of the Year. Previous award winners include, Nastia Luikin, Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Kwan, Gail Devers and Bonnie Blair, just to name a few. Courtney’s return from a torn Achilles in her senior year of competition to lead the Gym Dogs to their tenth national title was highlighted. Courtney holds too many NCAA, SEC and Georgia records to enumerate, but what you might not know is that in 2004, after she earned the silver and bronze medals in the Olympics, Courtney’s success brought her to this same event, The Women’s Sports Foundation Awards Banquet as a nominee. This year, after a storied collegiate career, she was invited back as the award winner!

As she took the podium, "Miss Humble Pie" greeted the audience, thanked the University of Georgia constituents, her coaches, and her sister, Ashley, for their support throughout her career. She recognized the other women in attendance and the other nominees and expressed her gratitude in being included in this prestigious group of female athletes.

I flashed back to when Courtney joined the Gym Dogs team. It seems like yesterday. She looked like a typical teenager, naive and excited to begin the next stage of her life. This night, I witnessed the culmination of a career as a radiant, confident young woman, gracefully accepted one of the premier awards in women’s sports.

And now, for the next stage of her life... perhaps an athletic director?