On Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida, high school senior Katie Ledecky was named the USA Swimming Athlete of the Year for the second-straight year.
Coupled with her Golden Goggle award last year for Female Athlete of the Year, and Ledecky has won the last three major versions of this award for American swimmers.
As good as Ledecky was in the summer of 2013, she blew past even that lofty standard in 2014. That included breaking the World Record in the 400 meter free twice; the 800 meter free once; the 1500 meter free twice; and adding to those three events a fourth individual gold at Pan Pacs in the 200 free.
In total, she won five gold medals at Pan Pacs, including on the American 800 free relay.
This award combines with her earlier-announced win for Performance of the Year for her 1500 free at the 2014 Pan Pac Championships.
Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year: Haley Anderson
Fran Crippen Memorial Male Swimmer of the Year: Andrew Gemmell
Glen S. Hummer Award: Gregg Cross
Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation Award: Fox 9 Twin Cities
Trischa L. Zorn Award (Performance by “Adapted Swimmer”): Cortney Jordan
James Raymond “Jimi” Flowers Disability Coach of the Year: Kristi Moore
Outstanding Disability Service Award: Bill Jerome
Make a Splash Hero Award: Gordon Hair
Safe Sport Impact Award: Bob Kizer
Diversity Inclusion Award: Robert Trotman and Rodger McCoy
Kenneth J. Pettigrew Award: Julie Bare
ASCA Coach of the Year (Presented at the ASCA Convention): Bruce Gemmell
Developmental Coach of the Year: David Marsh and Jason Turcotte
Athletes’ Appreciation Award: Susan Woessner
Phillips 66 Performance of the Year Award: Katie Ledecky, 1500m Free – 2014 Pan Pacific Championships
USA Swimming Athlete of the Year: Katie Ledecky
USA Swimming Award: Ellaine Cox
It seems like she is going after title of “greatest freestyler of all time” rather than just “distance swimmer”
Ledecky’s 2013-2014 eerily mirrors Janet Evans’ 1987-1988.
In both years, they each broke WRs in 400-800-1500, and while Ledecky won 3 individual golds in 2013 Worlds, Evans won 3 individual golds in 1988 Seoul.
While Ledecky is ranked world’s #2 in 200 free this year, Evans also won 200 free silver in 1991 Worlds.
But when Ledecky wins 400-800 free in 2016 Rio, she will rightfully take over the title of World’s greatest female distance swimmer ever from Evans. She is right on track for that.
Wow, thanks for your comment! I didn’t know all those parallels existed! You always add interesting comments to articles on this website, and I look forward to reading them.
One thing I wish Katie would do that Janet did is try the 400 IM, not in a major meet but maybe in the Grand Prix, because I’d like to see how she would do. Even is ihe first 300 was slow, it would be fun to see how fast she could finish! 🙂
Does anyone know whether Universal Sports ever released the videos from Pan Pacs? Or whether there is a more complete video of Katie’s Pan Pacs 1500 victory? The only video I have seen only has the first and last two minutes of the race. It would be great to see the last 800 m, when it sounds like she kicked it into gear.
Ledecky is best female athlete in world right now in my opinion. 7 world records in 12 months and 5 of those in just 9 weeks… Can’t wait to see what she does to close out the year either at SC Worlds or probably more likely at Winter SCY Nationals where she always dominates
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/katie-ledecky-athlete-best-swimmer/
She’s a stud!
Only mono or a/shoulder injury will bring her down . Without meaning any disrespect to the gals we gotta move her up with the boys & give her a one sec per 50 m handicap.
I know Mr Phelps has said that about her in interview but I don’t know what it means officially in that case.
Crazy good?
“She’s a stud.”
Please, what does it mean in English?
bobo – “she’s a stud” means “she’s very, very good, one of the best.”
As far as I can tell, the expression expands from horse breeding – stud horses are ones left capable of siring a horse or giving birth to another stud horse. Generally, those are the best horses in any given herd. That’s the short version.
Thanks.
That’s what I thought but I was not sure.
The technical equivalent for female horses is broodmare , though I would not suggest you use that . ‘Stud’ is more than a bit weird also for girls , but it is just an off the cuff comment .
It also means she makes Superman look like Superwimp. It means she pulls the arrow out of her own body. It means she eats glass for breakfast and washes it down with a box of nails. It means you better get out of her way because in the pool, she WILL run you down. LOL LOL LOL
Way to go, Katie! You deserve every bit of the applause you are receiving. And more is definitely on the way!
2015 goals: 400 free/800 free/1500 free/4X200 free gold medals at the world championships and crushing the 800 free world record under 8.10!
Katie has never lost a final in a major long course international meet yet. In individual and in relay.
Can she remain unbeaten during her whole career? 🙂
I think it can happen at least until 2016.
In my opinion, her biggest challenge will be the 200 free at the olympic games.
But at the pace she improves her speed year after year, anything is possible!
I beleive she can become one of the most incredible 200 freestyler the world has ever seen …. next year and in 2016 . When u see how she did anchor on the 800 free relay !!! incredible .
Thanks for all those links, Bobo! I enjoyed reviewing those swims!
My pleasure. 😉
I know the stated plan for her was not to swim the 200m free at next year’s World’s–but I think after her performance at Nationals and Pan Pacs, she now plans to add the 200m next year. Remember before Nationals Ledecky was just one of three swimmers, along with Franklin and Schmitt, who were considered likely possible winners in the 200m free.
8/24/2014
Gold Coast, Australia
Pan Pacific championships
1500 free final
Gold medal and world record in 15.28.36
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68BtNNtN8RM