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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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James E. Sullivan Award

The AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), is awarded annually to "the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States".

The award was established in 1930 in honor of the organization's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship, the AAU Sullivan Award "goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character". Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee. Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen, and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel. More recently, a portion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public. Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, and in 2023, Caitlin Clark became the first repeat winner. In 1999, 2015, 2019, and 2020, the award was shared between two co-recipients.

The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones, winner of 13 majors between 1923 and 1930. The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman. 34 track and field athletes have won the AAU Sullivan Award—the most by any sport.

Winners

Award Year Winner Sport(s) Reference
1930 Bobby Jones Golf
1931 Bernard Berlinger Decathlon
1932 James Bausch
1933 Glenn Cunningham Running (middle distance)
1934 William Bonthron
1935 W. Lawson Little, Jr. Golf
1936 Glenn Morris Decathlon
1937 Don Budge Tennis
1938 Don Lash Running (long distance)
1939 Joe Burk Rowing
1940 J. Gregory Rice Running (long distance)
1941 T. Leslie MacMitchell Running (middle distance/cross country)
1942 Cornelius Warmerdam Pole vault
1943 Gil Dodds Running (middle distance)
1944 Ann Curtis Swimming
1945 Doc Blanchard Football
1946 Arnold Tucker
1947 John B. Kelly, Jr. Rowing
1948 Bob Mathias Decathlon
1949 Dick Button Figure skating
1950 Fred Wilt Running (long distance)
1951 Bob Richards Pole vault & decathlon
1952 Horace Ashenfelter Running (long distance)
1953 Sammy Lee Diving
1954 Mal Whitfield Running (middle distance)
1955 Harrison Dillard Running (sprint)
1956 Pat McCormick Diving
1957 Bobby Morrow Running (sprint)
1958 Glenn Davis
1959 Parry O'Brien Shot put & discus
1960 Rafer Johnson Decathlon
1961 Wilma Rudolph Running (sprint)
1962 Jim Beatty Running (middle and long distance)
1963 John Pennel Pole vault
1964 Don Schollander Swimming
1965 Bill Bradley Basketball
1966 Jim Ryun Running (middle distance)
1967 Randy Matson Shot put & discus
1968 Debbie Meyer Swimming
1969 Bill Toomey Decathlon
1970 John Kinsella Swimming
1971 Mark Spitz
1972 Frank Shorter Running (long distance)
1973 Bill Walton Basketball
1974 Rick Wohlhuter Running (middle distance)
1975 Tim Shaw Swimming
1976 Caitlyn Jenner Decathlon
1977 John Naber Swimming
1978 Tracy Caulkins
1979 Kurt Thomas Gymnastics
1980 Eric Heiden Speed skating
1981 Carl Lewis Running (sprint) & long jump
1982 Mary Decker Running (middle and long distance)
1983 Edwin Moses Running (sprint)
1984 Greg Louganis Diving
1985 Joan Benoit Running (long distance)
1986 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Running (sprint)
1987 Jim Abbott Baseball
1988 Florence Griffith-Joyner Running (sprint)
1989 Janet Evans Swimming
1990 John Smith Wrestling
1991 Mike Powell Long jump
1992 Bonnie Blair Speed skating
1993 Charlie Ward Basketball & football
1994 Dan Jansen Speed skating
1995 Bruce Baumgartner Wrestling
1996 Michael Johnson Running (sprint)
1997 Peyton Manning Football
1998 Chamique Holdsclaw Basketball
1999 Coco Miller
Kelly Miller
2000 Rulon Gardner Wrestling
2001 Michelle Kwan Figure skating
2002 Sarah Hughes
2003 Michael Phelps Swimming
2004 Paul Hamm Gymnastics
2005 JJ Redick Basketball
2006 Jessica Long Swimming
2007 Tim Tebow Football
2008 Shawn Johnson Gymnastics
2009 Amy Palmiero-Winters Running (ultra marathon)
2010 Evan Lysacek Figure skating
2011 Andrew Rodriguez Football
2012 Missy Franklin Swimming
2013 John Urschel Football
2014 Ezekiel Elliott
2015 Keenan Reynolds
Breanna Stewart Basketball
2016 Lauren Carlini Volleyball
2017 Kyle Snyder Wrestling
2018 Kathryn Plummer Volleyball
2019 Sabrina Ionescu Basketball
Spencer Lee Wrestling
2020 Simone Biles Gymnastics
Caeleb Dressel Swimming
2021 Carissa Moore Surfing
2022 Caitlin Clark Basketball
2023

Notes

  1. ^ In North American English, athletics is synonymous with sports in general, making the terms athlete and sportsperson synonyms. In many other forms of English, notably British English, athlete refers strictly to a participant in the sport of athletics.
  2. ^ Jenner changed her name from Bruce to Caitlyn after to her gender transition in 2015.

References

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  76. ^ "Andrew Rodriguez Wins Sullivan Award". US Military Academy. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
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  82. ^ "Ohio State wrestling champion Kyle Snyder wins Sullivan Award". ESPN. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  83. ^ "Stanford's Kathryn Plummer wins Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete in US". San Francisco Chronicle. April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  84. ^ "Sabrina Ionescu & Spencer Lee Crowned 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award Co-Winners Presented by Eastbay" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
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  86. ^ "Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore Wins the 92nd AAU James E. Sullivan Award" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  87. ^ "Iowa Basketball Star Caitlin Clark Wins 93rd AAU James E. Sullivan Award" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. September 19, 2023. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2023.