ORLANDO, Fla. -- Sarah Hughes, the Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater, and Cael Sanderson, the first wrestler to enjoy an undefeated collegiate career, were named as finalists for the Sullivan Award on Wednesday.

Also in contention for the award honoring the top U.S. amateur athlete were short track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, swimmer Natalie Coughlin and paralympian skier Chris Waddell.

The winner will be named on March 18 at the New York Athletic Club.

Hughes won the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games by delivering a near-flawless performance in the free stake to jump from fourth place to first place.

She also finished second at Skate America and third at the U.S. Championships and the Grand Prix Final.

Sanderson won his fourth NCAA wrestling title last year at Iowa State, capping a 159-0 career, and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight season.

Ohno captured Olympic gold in the 1,500 metres and silver in the 1,000. He also won seven of eight events at the world championships.

Coughlin broke 11 records -- four world, three American and four NCAA -- while becoming both the USA Swimming Athlete of the Year and the NCAA Swimmer of the Year.

Waddell won three alpine skiing medals at the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games. He is paralysed from the waist down following a skiing accident.

The winner is selected through voting by the Amateur Athletic Union, the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors and the media.