Serena Williams, Simone Biles battle for USOC honors (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Ted Ligety were among the finalists for United States Olympic Committee (USOC) male and female athletes of year honors announced on Thursday. Competition will be particularly tight for Team USA female Olympic athlete of the year with Williams, only the second woman to win four straight Grand Slam titles twice, going up against gymnastics dynamo Biles, who earlier this month claimed her third consecutive world all-around title in 2015. Also in the running is Katie Ledecky, the first swimmer to win the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500-metre freestyle events at the world championships.