By Gary Anderson

November 13 - Japan's Kohei Uchimura has taken the USSA male Athlete of the Month Award for October © Getty Images The United States Sports Academy (USSA) has announced Olympic and world champion gymnast Kohei Uchimura of Japan and world number two golfer Norway's Suzann Pettersen have been chosen as the male and female athletes of the month for October.

Uchimura continued his claim to be the best gymnast in the sport at the moment by claiming a record fourth all-round World Championship crown in Belgium last month, finishing with an impressive 91.990 points, almost two pints clear of compatriot and silver medallist Ryohei Kato.

The 24-year-old, who also took individual gold in the parallel bars competition in Antwerp, took gold at London 2012 along with two silver medals to complete an amazing year of success.

The man who also secured a double silver medal haul at Beijing 2008 finished ahead of baseball player David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox who was nominated as most valuable player (MVP) during his side's World Series victory over the St Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who led the National Hockey League (NHL) in scoring with 21 points - eight goals and 13 assists - took third spot.

Olympic champion Uchimura took his fourth men's all-round world title in Antwerp last month © Getty Images Olympic champion Uchimura took his fourth men's all-round world title in Antwerp last month
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The USSA Athlete of the Month winners are chosen via a public ballot as fans can nominate their favourite athlete on the organisation's website before returning and casting their vote in each category during the first two weeks of each month.

The votes along with an Academy committee choose the overall winners.

This month's female winner Pettersen successfully defended her Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Taiwan Championship crown finishing on nine under par, five strokes ahead of Spaniard Azahara Munoz.

The 32-year-old from Oslo, who played a key part in Europe's Solheim Cup victory over the United States in August, carded an impressive three under par final round of 69 at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan to clinch her fourth Tour victory this year.

With two events left this season – the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara and the CME Group Titleholders in Florida – Pettersen is pushing South Korean Inbee Park close for the end-of-season world number one spot.

Suzann Pettersen successfully defended the Taiwan Championship last month to claim her fourth win of the year © Getty Images Suzann Pettersen successfully defended the Taiwan Championship last month to claim her fourth win of the year © Getty Images





































American gymnast Simone Biles finished second in the voting following her performances in Antwerp which seen the 16-year-old take all-round gold as well as gold in the floor event.

She also claimed silver in the vault competition and took bronze on the balance beam.

Biles compatriot, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings came third in the voting after a month which saw wins for her and partner April Ross in Xiamen and Sao Paulo help the three-time Olympic champion become the most successful player in the sport's history with 113 tournament wins.

Uchimura and Pettersen will now enter the USSA's Athlete of the Year awards process which will see an overall winner chosen from each of this year's monthly winners via a worldwide online poll next month.

Last year, six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt and 17-time tennis singles Grand Slam champion Serena Williams were chosen as the USSA male and female athletes of the year.

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