List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year

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Michael Phelps was the male World Swimmer of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016. Michael Phelps conquista 20a medalha de ouro e e ovacionado 1036424-09082016- mg 7146 (cropped).jpg
Michael Phelps was the male World Swimmer of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016.

Swimming WorldSwimmers of the Year is awarded by the American-based Swimming World . There are seven categories: World Swimmer, American Swimmer, European Swimmer, Pacific Rim Swimmer, World Disabled Swimmer, African Swimmer, and Open Water Swimmer of year. An award for male and female is made for each category. [1]

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The award was inaugurated in 1964, when Swimming World named Don Schollander as its World Swimmer of the Year. Two years later, a female category was added, and the awards continued in this format until 1980. The winners were mostly American until the rise of East Germany's women in the 1970s, and 1980 saw the creation of subcategories for American and European swimmers. Following the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of the East's systematic state-sponsored doping program, while Australia's swimming team enjoyed a revival. In December 2013, Swimming World announced a decision to strip the drug-fueled East Germans of all World and European Swimmers of the Year awards. [2]

In 1994, Australian swimmers won both awards for World Swimmer of the Year for the first time, and in 1995, a subcategory was inaugurated for Pacific Rim swimmers. A subcategory for disabled swimmers was introduced in 2003, and in the following year, an African award was launched after South Africa became the first country from the continent to win an Olympic relay. In 2005, open water swimming was added to the Olympic program and another category was duly added. [1]

United States swimmers have won the title 51 times, followed by Australia (13 times) and East Germany (11 times). This ratio is approximately proportional to the number of gold medals won by the respective nations at the Olympics. East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when they dominated the women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping. Michael Phelps of the United States has won the global award eight times, followed by Katie Ledecky of the United States and Ian Thorpe of Australia with four. Regionally, German, Hungarian and Dutch swimmers have had the most success in Europe, while Australians have won more than three-quarters of the Pacific awards. [1]

World Swimmers of the Year

Katie Ledecky, five-time female World Swimmer of the Year Katie Ledecky 2016c.jpg
Katie Ledecky, five-time female World Swimmer of the Year
Inge de Bruijn, the only Dutch female World Swimmer of the Year Inge de Bruijn.jpg
Inge de Bruijn, the only Dutch female World Swimmer of the Year
Natalie Coughlin, female world Swimmer of the Year in 2002 Natalie Coughlin.png
Natalie Coughlin, female world Swimmer of the Year in 2002
Grant Hackett, male World Swimmer of the Year in 2005 2008 Australian Olympic team Grant Hackett 2 - Sarah Ewart.jpg
Grant Hackett, male World Swimmer of the Year in 2005
Leisel Jones, female World Swimmer of the Year in 2005 and 2006 2008 Australian Olympic team Leisel Jones - Sarah Ewart.jpg
Leisel Jones, female World Swimmer of the Year in 2005 and 2006
Sun Yang is the 2013 male World Swimmer of the Year and a five-time male Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year. He is the only Chinese World Swimmer of the Year. Incheon AsianGames Swimming 34.jpg
Sun Yang is the 2013 male World Swimmer of the Year and a five-time male Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year. He is the only Chinese World Swimmer of the Year.

The award was inaugurated in 1964, when Swimming World named Don Schollander as its World Swimmer of the Year. One year later, a female category was added. From 1973 until 1989, the rise of East Germany's women saw them win a majority of the awards. [1] Following the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of the East's systematic state-sponsored doping program, [3] [4] while Australia's swimming team enjoyed a revival in the late 1990s, winning nine awards since 1997, the most by any country in that period. [1] Swimming World has since stripped the East Germans of their titles.

United States swimmers have won the title 51 times, followed by Australia (13 times) and East Germany (11 times). [1] This ratio is approximately proportional to the number of gold medals won by the respective nations at the Olympics. East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when they dominated the women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping. [3] [4]

With his win in 2016, Michael Phelps (United States) now holds the overall record with eight titles. He won in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016. Katie Ledecky (United States) is the second most-prolific winner, winning in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Phelps and Ledecky are the only swimmers to win the award four straight times. Ian Thorpe (AUS) was honored four times, in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. [1]

Ledecky is the only female swimmer to win the award more than three times. [1] Four female swimmers have won three awards: Debbie Meyer (United States) in 1967, 1968 and 1969, Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN) in 1991, 1992 and 1995, Janet Evans (United States) in 1987, 1989 and 1990, and Kristin Otto (GDR) in 1984, 1986 and 1988. Franziska van Almsick is the youngest female to have won the award, having turned 15 on 5 April in the year of her first award. Thorpe is the youngest male recipient, having turned 16 on 13 October in the year of his first award. [5]

World Swimmer of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
1964Not awardedN/A Don Schollander Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1965 Martha Randall [6] Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dick Roth Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1966 Claudia Kolb Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mike Burton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1967 Debbie Meyer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mark Spitz Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1968 Debbie Meyer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Charlie Hickcox Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1969 Debbie Meyer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Gary Hall Sr. Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1970 Alice Jones Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Gary Hall Sr. Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1971 Shane Gould Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Mark Spitz Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1972 Shane Gould Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Mark Spitz Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1973 Kornelia Ender Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Rick DeMont Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1974 Ulrike Tauber Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Tim Shaw Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1975 Kornelia Ender Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Tim Shaw Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1976 Kornelia Ender Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany John Naber Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1977 Ulrike Tauber Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Brian Goodell Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1978 Tracy Caulkins Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Jesse Vassallo Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1979 Cynthia Woodhead Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Vladimir Salnikov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1980 Petra Schneider Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Rowdy Gaines Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1981 Mary T. Meagher Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Alex Baumann Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1982 Petra Schneider Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Vladimir Salnikov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1983 Ute Geweniger Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Rick Carey Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1984 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Alex Baumann Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1985 Mary T. Meagher Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1986 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Matt Biondi Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1987 Janet Evans Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Tamás Darnyi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1988 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Matt Biondi Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1989 Janet Evans Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mike Barrowman Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1990 Janet Evans Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mike Barrowman Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1991 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Tamás Darnyi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1992 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Yevgeny Sadovyi Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg Russia
1993 Franziska van Almsick Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Károly Güttler Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1994 Samantha Riley Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kieren Perkins Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1995 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Denis Pankratov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
1996 Penny Heyns Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Denis Pankratov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
1997 Claudia Poll Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica Michael Klim Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1998 Jenny Thompson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1999 Penny Heyns Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2000 Inge de Bruijn Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Pieter van den Hoogenband Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2001 Inge de Bruijn Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2002 Natalie Coughlin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2003 Hannah Stockbauer Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2004 Yana Klochkova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2005 Leisel Jones Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Grant Hackett Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2006 Leisel Jones Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2007 Laure Manaudou Flag of France.svg  France Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2008 Stephanie Rice Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 Federica Pellegrini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 Rebecca Soni Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ryan Lochte Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 Rebecca Soni Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ryan Lochte Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 Missy Franklin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2014 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Kosuke Hagino Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2015 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2016 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Caeleb Dressel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2019 Regan Smith Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Caeleb Dressel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Emma McKeon Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Caeleb Dressel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2022 Ariarne Titmus Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia David Popovici Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
2023 Kaylee McKeown Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
2024 Summer McIntosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France

American Swimmers of the Year

Katie Hoff, female American Swimmer of the Year from 2005 to 2007 Katie Hoff Olympic Games 2008.jpg
Katie Hoff, female American Swimmer of the Year from 2005 to 2007

Michael Phelps has been named American Swimmer of the Year on eleven occasions; his streak of 2001 to 2009 was interrupted only by Aaron Peirsol in 2005. Katie Ledecky is the most decorated female swimmer with six awards, followed by Evans, who won five consecutive awards from 1987 to 1991. Tracy Caulkins won four times in the early-1980s, while Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff and Jenny Thompson all won three times. On the men's side, Mike Barrowman and Lenny Krayzelburg won the award four consecutive times, while Matt Biondi and Tom Dolan captured three awards. [1]

American Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerMale winner
1980 Tracy Caulkins Mike Bruner
1981 Tracy Caulkins Craig Beardsley
1982 Tracy Caulkins Steve Lundquist
1983 Tiffany Cohen Rick Carey
1984 Tracy Caulkins Pablo Morales
1985 Mary T. Meagher Matt Biondi
1986 Betsy Mitchell Matt Biondi
1987 Janet Evans David Wharton
1988 Janet Evans Matt Biondi
1989 Janet Evans Mike Barrowman
1990 Janet Evans Mike Barrowman
1991 Janet Evans Mike Barrowman
1992 Summer Sanders Mike Barrowman
1993 Jenny Thompson Eric Namesnik
1994 Allison Wagner Tom Dolan
1995 Amy Van Dyken Tom Dolan
1996 Amy Van Dyken 4×100 m medley relay team [note 1]
1997 Kristine Quance Lenny Krayzelburg
1998 Jenny Thompson Lenny Krayzelburg
1999 Jenny Thompson Lenny Krayzelburg
2000 Brooke Bennett Lenny Krayzelburg
Tom Dolan
2001 Natalie Coughlin Michael Phelps
2002 Natalie Coughlin Michael Phelps
2003 Amanda Beard Michael Phelps
2004 Amanda Beard Michael Phelps
2005 Katie Hoff Aaron Peirsol
2006 Katie Hoff Michael Phelps
2007 Katie Hoff Michael Phelps
2008 Natalie Coughlin Michael Phelps
2009 Ariana Kukors
Rebecca Soni
Michael Phelps
2010 Rebecca Soni Ryan Lochte
2011 Rebecca Soni Ryan Lochte
2012 Missy Franklin Michael Phelps
2013 Katie Ledecky Ryan Lochte
2014 Katie Ledecky Ryan Cochrane
Tyler Clary
2015 Katie Ledecky Michael Phelps
2016 Katie Ledecky Michael Phelps
2017 Katie Ledecky Caeleb Dressel
2018 Katie Ledecky Chase Kalisz
2019 Regan Smith Caeleb Dressel
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Katie Ledecky Caeleb Dressel
2022 Katie Ledecky Bobby Finke
2023 Summer McIntosh Ryan Murphy
2024 Summer McIntosh Bobby Finke

European Swimmers of the Year

Katinka Hosszu, four-time winner of the European Swimmer of the Year award Kazan 2015 - Hosszu Katinka 200m backstroke.JPG
Katinka Hosszú, four-time winner of the European Swimmer of the Year award
Pieter van den Hoogenband was the European Swimmer of the Year four times. Pieter van den Hoogenband (2008-08-25).jpg
Pieter van den Hoogenband was the European Swimmer of the Year four times.
Adam Peaty won the European Swimmer of the Year six times. Swimming 4x100m freestyle relay 2017-08-07 06 (cropped).jpg
Adam Peaty won the European Swimmer of the Year six times.

East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when they dominated the women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping. [3] [4] Their women swept the award for the first ten years of its existence from 1980 to 1989, with Kristin Otto winning three times, before the Berlin Wall and communism fell. With the end of the state-sponsored doping program, the (East) German stranglehold on women's swimming was broken. [1] [3] [4] In the two decades since reunification, the female award was won by Germans four times, three by Franziska van Almsick. [1] During the 1980s, Michael Gross of West Germany, nicknamed The Albatross in reference to his vast wingspan, dominated European swimming, winning five consecutive awards from 1982 to 1986, record that stood alone until Adam Peaty of Great Britain equalled the feat between 2014 and 2018. [1] Swimming World has vacated all awards previously awarded to East German swimmers because of the government-sanctioned systematic doping. [1]

Hungary has won the award 17 times, mainly on the back of its strength in medley swimming. Breaststrokers Ágnes Kovács and Károly Güttler, and backstroker Sándor Wladár were the only Hungarian winners who were not champion medley swimmers. Krisztina Egerszegi won four awards, the most by a female swimmer, while Tamás Darnyi claimed three. [1] The Netherlands have won seven awards, through the efforts of Inge de Bruijn (3) and Pieter van den Hoogenband (4), who led the sprinting world for women and men at the turn of the century. Russian or Soviet swimmers have won seven awards, all of them male. [1]

European Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
1980 Petra Schneider Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Vladimir Salnikov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1981 Ute Geweniger Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Sándor Wladár Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1982 Cornelia Sirch Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1983 Ute Geweniger Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1984 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1985 Silke Hörner Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1986 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Michael Groß Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1987 Silke Hörner Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Tamás Darnyi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1988 Kristin Otto Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Tamás Darnyi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1989 Anke Möhring Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Giorgio Lamberti Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1990 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Adrian Moorhouse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1991 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Tamás Darnyi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1992 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Yevgeny Sadovyi Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg Russia
1993 Franziska van Almsick Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Károly Güttler Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1994 Franziska van Almsick Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Alexander Popov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
1995 Krisztina Egerszegi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Denis Pankratov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
1996 Michelle Smith Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Denis Pankratov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
1997 Ágnes Kovács Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Emiliano Brembilla Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1998 Ágnes Kovács Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Denys Sylantyev Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
1999 Inge de Bruijn Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Pieter van den Hoogenband Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2000 Inge de Bruijn Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Pieter van den Hoogenband Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2001 Inge de Bruijn Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Roman Sloudnov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2002 Franziska van Almsick Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Pieter van den Hoogenband Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2003 Hannah Stockbauer Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Alexander Popov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2004 Yana Klochkova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Pieter van den Hoogenband Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2005 Otylia Jędrzejczak Flag of Poland.svg  Poland László Cseh Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2006 Laure Manaudou Flag of France.svg  France László Cseh Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2007 Laure Manaudou Flag of France.svg  France Mateusz Sawrymowicz Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
2008 Rebecca Adlington Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Alain Bernard Flag of France.svg  France
2009 Federica Pellegrini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Paul Biedermann Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2010 Federica Pellegrini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Camille Lacourt Flag of France.svg  France
2011 Federica Pellegrini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Alexander Dale Oen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
2012 Ranomi Kromowidjojo Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Yannick Agnel Flag of France.svg  France
2013 Katinka Hosszú Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Dániel Gyurta Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2014 Katinka Hosszú Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2015 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2016 Katinka Hosszú Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2017 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2018 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2019 Katinka Hosszú Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Adam Peaty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Evgeny Rylov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2022 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden David Popovici Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
2023 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
2024 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France

Pacific Rim Swimmers of the Year

Ian Thorpe is a four-time World Swimmer of the Year and six-time Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year. Ian Thorpe with a smile.jpg
Ian Thorpe is a four-time World Swimmer of the Year and six-time Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year.
Kosuke Kitajima has been the Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year four times. Kitajima.jpg
Kosuke Kitajima has been the Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year four times.

The Pacific Rim award was introduced in 1995, the year after two Australian swimmers—Kieren Perkins and Samantha Riley—became the first two Pacific Rim swimmers to be named as World Swimmer of the Year. It has subsequently been dominated by Australian swimmers, who have won 30 of the 48 awards given. Ian Thorpe won six awards (five consecutively) and Susie O'Neill has won four (three consecutively). Australia's success has been built on female butterfliers (O’Neill and Petria Thomas), female breaststrokers (Riley and Leisel Jones), and male freestylers (Thorpe, Grant Hackett and Michael Klim). The men's awards have been dominated by Asian swimmers since 2006. Kosuke Kitajima (Japan) was the first non-Australian swimmer to win the award more than once (in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010). [1] [8] He was followed by Sun Yang of China who won five awards (in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018).

Pacific Rim Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
1995 Susie O'Neill Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Scott Miller Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1996 Le Jingyi Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Danyon Loader Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1997 Samantha Riley Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Michael Klim Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1998 Susie O'Neill Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1999 Susie O'Neill Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2000 Susie O'Neill Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2001 Petria Thomas Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2002 Petria Thomas Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2003 Leisel Jones Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kosuke Kitajima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2004 Jodie Henry Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Ian Thorpe Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2005 Leisel Jones Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Grant Hackett Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2006 Leisel Jones Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Park Tae-hwan Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
2007 Libby Lenton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kosuke Kitajima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2008 Stephanie Rice Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kosuke Kitajima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2009 Jessicah Schipper Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Zhang Lin Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2010 Alicia Coutts Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kosuke Kitajima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2011 Ye Shiwen Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2012 Ye Shiwen Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2013 Cate Campbell Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2014 Cate Campbell Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Kosuke Hagino Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2015 Emily Seebohm Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Mitch Larkin Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2016 Rie Kaneto Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Kosuke Hagino Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2017 Emily Seebohm Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2018 Cate Campbell Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2019 Ariarne Titmus Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Daiya Seto Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Emma McKeon Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Zac Stubblety-Cook Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2022 Ariarne Titmus Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Zac Stubblety-Cook Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2023 Kaylee McKeown Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Qin Haiyang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2024 Kaylee McKeown Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Pan Zhanle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China

African Swimmers of the Year

Oussama Mellouli was the first African male to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. Oussama Mellouli 1.jpg
Oussama Mellouli was the first African male to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming.

The African award was introduced in 2004, [1] the year in which South Africa won the men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay at the Olympics. Although Joan Harrison (1952) and Penny Heyns (1996) had won individual gold medals for South Africa, the 2004 victory was the first time that an African relay team won a medal, indicating their increasing depth. In the same Olympics, Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry's won three medals, including one gold, making her the first African swimmer outside of South Africa to stand on the podium. [1] [9] Coventry has won the female award nine times. South African Chad le Clos won seven men's awards in a row, and South African sprinter Roland Schoeman four, [1] and in total South African swimmers have claimed nineteen awards. In 2008, Ous Mellouli of Tunisia broke the South African and Zimbabwean duopoly after becoming the first African male to win an individual Olympic gold medal. [1] [9]

African Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
2004 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Roland Schoeman Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2005 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Roland Schoeman Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2006 Suzaan van Biljon Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Roland Schoeman Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2007 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Roland Schoeman Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2008 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Oussama Mellouli Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
2009 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Oussama Mellouli
Cameron van der Burgh
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2010 Mandy Loots Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Cameron van der Burgh Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2011 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Cameron van der Burgh Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2012 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2013 Karin Prinsloo Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2014 Karin Prinsloo Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2015 Kirsty Coventry Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2016 Kirsty Coventry [10] Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Chad le Clos [10] Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2017 Farida Osman Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2018 Tatjana Schoenmaker Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2019 Tatjana Schoenmaker Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Chad le Clos Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Tatjana Schoenmaker Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Ahmed Hafnaoui Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
2022 Lara van Niekerk Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Pieter Coetze Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2023 Tatjana Schoenmaker Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Ahmed Hafnaoui Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
2024 Tatjana Smith Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Ahmed Jaouadi Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia

Open Water Swimmers of the Year

Maarten van der Weijden was the 2008 Open Water Swimmer of the Year. Maarten van der Weijden (2008-08-25).jpg
Maarten van der Weijden was the 2008 Open Water Swimmer of the Year.

The Open Water award was introduced in 2005, [1] when it was announced that open water swimming events would be included in the Olympics for the first time: the men's and women's 10 km events at the 2008 Olympics. [11] The award has been won by Dutch and German swimmers five times, while Russian swimmers have won four times. Thomas Lurz of Germany has won the award five times, triumphing in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2013, while Russia's Larisa Ilchenko has won the award three years in a row (2006–2008). [1] [12]

Open Water Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
2005 Edith van Dijk Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Thomas Lurz
Chip Peterson
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2006 Larisa Ilchenko Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Thomas Lurz Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2007 Larisa Ilchenko Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Vladimir Dyatchin Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2008 Larisa Ilchenko Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Maarten van der Weijden Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2009 Keri-Anne Payne Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Thomas Lurz Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2010 Martina Grimaldi Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Valerio Cleri Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2011 Keri-Anne Payne Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Thomas Lurz
Spyridon Gianniotis
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
2012 Éva Risztov Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Oussama Mellouli Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
2013 Poliana Okimoto Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Thomas Lurz Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2014 Sharon van Rouwendaal Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Andrew Gemmell Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Aurélie Muller Flag of France.svg  France Jordan Wilimovsky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 Sharon van Rouwendaal Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Ferry Weertman Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2017 Aurélie Muller Flag of France.svg  France Ferry Weertman Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2018 Sharon van Rouwendaal Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Kristof Rasovszky Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2019 Ana Marcela Cunha Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Florian Wellbrock Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Ana Marcela Cunha Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Florian Wellbrock Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2022 Ana Marcela Cunha Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Gregorio Paltrinieri Flag of Italy.svg  Italy [13]
2023 Leonie Beck Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Florian Wellbrock Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

World Disabled Swimmers of the Year

This award was created in 2003, and then was not awarded in 2004. The award has been won by American swimmers six times, Brazilian and Australian swimmers four times, and Canadian swimmers twice. [1]

World Disabled Swimmers of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
2003 Danielle Watts Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Sergei Punko Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
2004Not awardedN/ANot awardedN/A
2005 Erin Popovich Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Benoît Huot Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2006 Jessica Long Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Wang Xiaofu Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2007 Valérie Grand'Maison Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Matthew Cowdrey Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2008 Natalie du Toit Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Matthew Cowdrey Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2009 Mallory Weggemann Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Daniel Dias Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2010 Mallory Weggemann Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Daniel Dias Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2011 Jessica Long Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Daniel Dias Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2012 Jacqueline Freney Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Matthew Cowdrey Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2013 Sophie Pascoe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Daniel Dias Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2014 Ingrid Thunem Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Ian Silverman Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 Rebecca Meyers Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ihar Boki Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
2016 Aurélie Rivard Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Daniel Dias Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2017 Sophie Pascoe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Vincenzo Boni Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2018 Carlotta Gilli Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Ihar Boki Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus
2019 Sophie Pascoe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Reece Dunn Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Jessica Long Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Maksym Krypak Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
2022Not awarded
2023 Carlotta Gilli Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Andrii Trusov Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

World Water Polo Players of the Year

The Water Polo award was introduced in 2011. [1]

World Water Polo Players of the Year
Year [1] Female winnerNationalityMale winnerNationality
2011 Krystina Alogbo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Aleksandar Ivović Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
2012 Maggie Steffens Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Maro Joković Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
2013 Jennifer Pareja Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Viktor Nagy Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2014 Ashleigh Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Filip Filipović Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
2015 Ashleigh Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Duško Pijetlović Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
2016 Ashleigh Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Filip Filipović Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
2017 Maggie Steffens Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Márton Vámos Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
2018 Sabrina van der Sloot Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Aleksandar Ivović Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
2019 Ashleigh Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Francesco Di Fulvio Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2020Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Maddie Musselman Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Filip Filipović & Dušan Mandić Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
2022 Ashleigh Johnson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Francesco Di Fulvio Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2023 Judith Forca Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Gergő Zalánki Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

See also

Notes

  1. In 1996 the American Swimmer of the Year award was given to the 4×100 m medley relay team of Jeff Rouse, Jeremy Linn, Mark Henderson, and Gary Hall Jr. who won gold and broke the world record at the Olympics that year. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World . Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  2. Marsteller, Jason. "Stripped! Swimming World Vacates Awards of GDR Drug-fueled Swimmers". Swimming World. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Swimming's big splash". BBC Sport. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2006.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Phelps causes biggest splash". BBC Sport. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2006.
  5. Hunter, Greg (2004). Ian Thorpe: The Biography. Sydney: MacMillan. pp. 130–133. ISBN   1-4050-3632-X.
  6. Brien, Taylor (13 November 2018). "Who Will Be Swimming World's 2018 World Swimmers of the Year?". Swimming World . Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. "U.S. sets world mark in 4x100 medley relay". United Press International. 26 July 1996. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  8. Jeffery, Nicole (27 November 2008). "Rice on top of world again". The Australian . Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Olympic medal winners". International Olympic Committee . Retrieved 26 March 2009.
    Results classification: "By individual" → Competition gender: Select all → Medal: Select all → Continents and nations: "Africa" → Sports and events: "Swimming" → Search ↵
  10. 1 2 "Swimming World Magazine Announces African Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World . 28 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  11. VOA Sports (28 October 2005). "IOC Includes 10K Open Water Event in 2008 Beijing Olympics". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 18 November 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  12. "Lane 9 News Archive: Swimming World Names 2009 Open Water Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  13. D'Addona, Dan, ed. (10 November 2022). "Ana Marcela Cunha and Gregorio Paltrinieri Crowned Swimming World's Open Water Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2023.