Former USA Swimming executive Mike Unger has been selected as the 2023 USA Swimming Award honoree.
The award, given out annually, honors “exceptional contributions to the sport of swimming and to (USA Swimming).”
Unger was on staff at USA Swimming for 28 years before leaving in 2021 to become the Director of Sports Competition (now Senior Advisor) to FINA (now World Aquatics).
In addition to his most recent role as COO, he also served as the organization’s Assistant Executive Director, National Events Director, Marketing Director, National Team Coordinator, and also spent time as the interim Executive Director in April 2017 following former Executive Director Chuck Wielgus‘ death.
Many in the American swimming community expected Unger to take over as CEO after Wielgus’ death, but Tim Hinchey was ultimately hired instead.
During his time at USA Swimming, Unger held multiple parallel roles that expanded his reach beyond just the halls of Colorado Springs.
From 2003 to 2006, Unger was the Managing Director for the FINA World Cup series, serving as the liaison between FINA and the local organizers, broadcasters, and delegations attending the competitions.
In addition to his major roles in USA Swimming, Unger has also been a fixture behind the scenes on major swimming television broadcasts dating back to 1996, including production work with NBC Sports during several Olympic Games.
In his role as COO, Unger oversaw all major events, including the U.S. Olympic Trials, the Golden Goggle Awards, the Pan Pacific Championships, and the Duel In The Pool. Unger was directly responsible for much of the transformation of the US Olympic Trials from an event that filled up temporary grand stands at permanent pools to one that filled up permanent grandstands at temporary pools in a basketball arena and now a football stadium.
Unger also recently received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UMass Sport Management Program.
The award was established in 1981 and since then, the list has been a who’s-who of American swimming.
All-Time Winners, USA Swimming Award
- 1982 United States Olympic Committee
- 1983 Don Gambril
- 1984 Bernard J. Favaro
- 1985 William A. Lippman, Jr.
- 1986 Ross Wales
- 1987 Buck Dawson
- 1988 Richard Quick
- 1989 Mary T. Meagher
- 1990 Sandra Baldwin
- 1991 Michael M. Hastings
- 1992 Carol Zaleski
- 1993 Doug Ingram
- 1994 Bud and Irene Hackett
- 1995 Harvey Schiller and Bill Hybl
- 1996 Dr. Allen Richardson
- 1997 George Breen
- 1998 Ray B. Essick
- 1999 Carol (Penny) Taylor
- 2000 Dick Robinson
- 2001 Pete Malone
- 2002 Alice Kempthorne
- 2003 Jim Wood
- 2004 Arvydas Barzdukas
- 2005 Mark Schubert
- 2006 Audrey Birklid
- 2007 Anneliese Eggert
- 2008 John Hildenbiddle
- 2009 Sid Cassidy
- 2010 Adolf Kiefer
- 2011 Richard Shoulberg
- 2012 Wells O’Brien
- 2013 Ron Van Pool
- 2014 Ellaine Cox
- 2015 Rowdy Gaines
- 2016 Travis Tygart
- 2017 Chuck Wielgus
- 2018 Carol Burch
- 2019 Michael Phelps
- 2020 Jon Urbanchek
- 2021 (Not awarded?)
- 2022 Frank Keene
Thank you Mike. Well deserved!
Simply the best. A caring leader.
Mike is the best!! No one deserves it more. Thanks for you have done for swimming. Congrats. I agree with Nick, Go Badgers!
Congrats Mike! Well deserved and always placed the athletes and coaches first. Go BADGERS!
No one more deserving
USA Swimming needs more Mike Unger’s working there!
Mike built relationships and cared about people. Not like the current regime.