AAU James E. Sullivan Award
Awarded forThe most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the U.S. who demonstrates qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and sportsmanship on and off the field.
CountryUnited States
Presented byAmateur Athletic Union
First awarded1930
Currently held byCaitlin Clark
Websiteaausullivan.org

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".[1][lower-alpha 1]

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".[1] Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee.[2] Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen,[2] and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel.[3][4] More recently, a portion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public.[5][6] Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, although this has yet to happen.[2]

The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones, winner of 13 majors between 1923 and 1930.[7][8] The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman.[9]

34 track and field athletes have won the AAU Sullivan Award—the most by any sport. Notable winners include Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Michael Johnson. 12 swimmers have won, including Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps. Nine football players have won the award, among them Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow. Eight basketball players have taken home the trophy, including Chamique Holdsclaw, JJ Redick, Breanna Stewart, and Caitlin Clark. Five wrestlers have won, four figure skaters have won, and four gymnasts have taken home the award, including Simone Biles. Three divers and three speed skaters have won, as well as two oarsmen, two golfers, and two volleyball players. There's been one Paralympian, one ultra-marathoner, one baseball player, and one tennis player to win the prestigious award. And in December 2022, Carissa Moore became the first surfer to take home the trophy. (Numbers as of 2023)

Winners

U.S. Naval Academy quarterback Keenan Reynolds was awarded the 86th AAU James E. Sullivan Award on April 10, 2016, at the New York Athletic Club. He shared the award with UConn women's basketball player Breanna Stewart, who could not attend the ceremony.
A young man in a white shirt, dark tie and dark pants completing a right-handed golf swing
Golfer Bobby Jones won the inaugural award in 1930.
A woman in a T-shirt and shorts, crossing the finish line of a race in first place, ahead of a competitor
Wilma Rudolph received the accolade in 1961.
A man midway through a long jump leap. There is a metal chainlink fence in the background, both in front of which and behind are a number of spectators
Track athlete Carl Lewis received the award in 1981.
A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress
Figure skater Michelle Kwan took the honor in 2001.
A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress
Swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps won the award in 2003.
A female gymnast in a red leotard, looking down and to her left, with her right hand raised and her left hand across her waist. In the background sit a number of people including a cameraman, a photographer, a commentator and a judge
Olympic gold-medalist Shawn Johnson won the award in 2008.
Year Winner Sport(s) Reference
1930 Bobby Jones Golf [10]
1931 Bernard Berlinger Decathlon [11]
1932 James Bausch Decathlon [12]
1933 Glenn Cunningham Running (middle distance) [13]
1934 William Bonthron Running (middle distance) [14]
1935 W. Lawson Little, Jr. Golf [15]
1936 Glenn Morris Decathlon [16]
1937 Don Budge Tennis [17]
1938 Don Lash Running (long distance) [18]
1939 Joe Burk Rowing [19]
1940 J. Gregory Rice Track and field [20]
1941 T. Leslie MacMitchell Track and field [21]
1942 Cornelius Warmerdam Pole vault [22]
1943 Gil Dodds Running (middle distance) [23]
1944 Ann Curtis Swimming [24]
1945 Doc Blanchard Football [25]
1946 Arnold Tucker Football [25]
1947 John B. Kelly, Jr. Rowing [26]
1948 Bob Mathias Decathlon [27]
1949 Dick Button Figure skating [28][29]
1950 Fred Wilt Running (long distance) [30]
1951 Bob Richards Pole vault, decathlon [31]
1952 Horace Ashenfelter Running (long distance) [32]
1953 Sammy Lee Diving [33]
1954 Mal Whitfield Running (middle distance) [34]
1955 Harrison Dillard Running (sprint) [35]
1956 Pat McCormick Diving [4]
1957 Bobby Morrow Running (sprint) [36]
1958 Glenn Davis Running (sprint) [37]
1959 Parry O'Brien Shot put, discus [38]
1960 Rafer Johnson Decathlon [39]
1961 Wilma Rudolph Running (sprint) [40]
1962 Jim Beatty Track and field [41]
1963 John Pennel Pole vault [42]
1964 Don Schollander Swimming [43]
1965 Bill Bradley Basketball [6]
1966 Jim Ryun Running (middle distance) [44]
1967 Randy Matson Shot put, discus [45]
1968 Debbie Meyer Swimming [46]
1969 Bill Toomey Decathlon [47]
1970 John Kinsella Swimming [48]
1971 Mark Spitz Swimming [10]
1972 Frank Shorter Running (long distance) [49]
1973 Bill Walton Basketball [6]
1974 Rick Wohlhuter Running (middle distance) [50]
1975 Tim Shaw Swimming [51]
1976 Caitlyn Jenner [lower-alpha 2] Decathlon [53]
1977 John Naber Swimming [3]
1978 Tracy Caulkins Swimming [54]
1979 Kurt Thomas Gymnastics [55]
1980 Eric Heiden Speed skating [56]
1981 Carl Lewis Running (sprint), long jump [57]
1982 Mary Decker Running (middle and long distance) [58]
1983 Edwin Moses Running (sprint) [59]
1984 Greg Louganis Diving [60]
1985 Joan Benoit Running (long distance) [61]
1986 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Running (sprint) [62]
1987 Jim Abbott Baseball [63]
1988 Florence Griffith-Joyner Running (sprint) [62]
1989 Janet Evans Swimming [20]
1990 John Smith Wrestling [20]
1991 Mike Powell Long jump [64]
1992 Bonnie Blair Speed skating [65]
1993 Charlie Ward Basketball, football [25]
1994 Dan Jansen Speed skating [66]
1995 Bruce Baumgartner Wrestling [67]
1996 Michael Johnson Running (sprint) [68]
1997 Peyton Manning Football [25]
1998 Chamique Holdsclaw Basketball [65]
1999 Coco Miller and Kelly Miller Basketball [69]
2000 Rulon Gardner Wrestling [70]
2001 Michelle Kwan Figure skating [28]
2002 Sarah Hughes Figure skating [10]
2003 Michael Phelps Swimming [10]
2004 Paul Hamm Gymnastics [55]
2005 JJ Redick Basketball [6]
2006 Jessica Long Swimming [71]
2007 Tim Tebow Football [72]
2008 Shawn Johnson Gymnastics [55]
2009 Amy Palmiero-Winters Running (ultra marathon) [73]
2010 Evan Lysacek Figure Skating [74]
2011 Andrew Rodriguez Football [75]
2012 Missy Franklin Swimming [76]
2013 John Urschel Football [77]
2014 Ezekiel Elliott Football [78]
2015 Keenan Reynolds and Breanna Stewart Football and basketball (respectively) [79]
2016 Lauren Carlini Volleyball [80]
2017 Kyle Snyder Wrestling [81]
2018 Kathryn Plummer Volleyball [82]
2019 Sabrina Ionescu and Spencer Lee Basketball and wrestling (respectively) [83]
2021 Simone Biles and Caeleb Dressel Gymnastics and swimming (respectively) [84]
2022 Carissa Moore Surfing [85]
2023 Caitlin Clark Basketball [86]

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 due to her gender transition in 2015.[52]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Sullivan Award – Overview". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Guidelines for nomination of an amateur athlete". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "John Naber wins Sullivan Award". Tri-City Herald. February 7, 1978. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Pat McCormick Named Sullivan Award Winner". St. Petersburg Times. January 15, 1957. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  5. ↑ Scott, Roxanna (April 8, 2009). "Beijing Olympians highlight Sullivan ballot". USA Today. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Redick beats out Young, Bush for Sullivan Award". ESPN. April 13, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Robert T. Jones". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  8. ↑ "The History of the AAC". BBC Sport. August 10, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Ann Curtis". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, Rick (April 13, 2004). "Phelps joins prestigious Sullivan list". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Bernard Ernst Berlinger". University of Pennsylvania Archives. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  12. ↑ "James Bausch". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Glenn Cunningham". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  14. ↑ Edward Seldon Sears (2001). Running Through The Ages. McFarland & Company. p. 205. ISBN 0-7864-0971-1.
  15. ↑ "USGA Acquires Sullivan Award From Family Of Champ Lawson Little Jr". United States Golf Association. May 1, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Glenn Morris". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  17. ↑ Schwartz, Larry. "In big matches, he wouldn't budge". ESPN. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Don Lash". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on August 25, 2005. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Former Penn Rower Joe Burk Passes Away". University of Pennsylvania Athletics. January 14, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  20. 1 2 3 "Wrestler locks up Sullivan". St. Petersburg Times. March 12, 1991. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Leslie MacMitchell, 85; First Undergrad to Win Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times. March 31, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Cornelius (Dutch) Warmerdam". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  23. ↑ McGowen, Roscoe (December 30, 1943). "Dodds Takes Sullivan Trophy in Poll of Sports Leaders by A.A.U." The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  24. ↑ "The International Swimming Hall of Fame's Timeline of Women's Swimming History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Tennessee's Manning Wins Sullivan as Top Amateur". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 1998. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  26. ↑ "USOC seeks nominations for Jack Kelly Fair Play Award". Beijing Olympics 2008. May 25, 2007. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Bob Mathias". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  28. 1 2 Freeman, Rick (March 18, 2003). "Hughes skates to Sullivan honor". USA Today. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  29. ↑ "On the Button". BBC Sport. January 11, 2002. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Fred Wilt". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  31. ↑ "The 50 Greatest Illinois Sports Figures". Sports Illustrated. December 27, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Horace Ashenfelter". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Dr. Sammy Lee (USA) – 1968 Honor Diver". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Mal (Marvelous Mal) Whitfield". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Harrison Dillard". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Bobby Morrow". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Glenn Davis". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  38. ↑ "William (Parry) O'Brien". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Rafer Johnson". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Wilma Rudolph". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Jim Beatty". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  42. ↑ Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (September 29, 1993). "John Pennel, First Pole-Vaulter To Clear 17 Feet, Is Dead at 53". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  43. ↑ Mason, Emily (November 2005). "Still Kicking". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Jim Ryun". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Randy Matson". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  46. ↑ Kirshenbaum, Jerry (August 31, 1970). "Now Look Who's An Old Lady". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  47. ↑ Reed, William F. (September 12, 1971). "The Ineligible Married Man". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  48. ↑ Field, Mike (September 10, 1979). "Channeling His Energy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Frank Shorter". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  50. ↑ Putnam, Pat (February 16, 1976). "Wohlhuter's Better Half". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  51. ↑ Cazeneuve, Brian (December 8, 2003). "Tim Shaw, Olympic Swimmer". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  52. ↑ Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Jenner named to USATF Foundation Board of Directors". USA Track & Field. June 12, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  54. ↑ "Tracy Caulkins Super Scholarship". University of Florida Foundation. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  55. 1 2 3 Hanashiro, Robert (April 16, 2009). "Gymnast, TV dancer Shawn Johnson wins Sullivan Award". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  56. ↑ "Eric Heiden wins Sullivan Award". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 3, 1981. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  57. ↑ "Sullivan award to Carl Lewis". The New York Times. February 16, 1982. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  58. ↑ "Mary Slaney (Decker)". USA Track & Field. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  59. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Curry (July 30, 1984). "The Man Who Never Loses". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  60. ↑ Flatter, Ron. "Louganis never lost drive to dive". ESPN. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  61. ↑ "Benoit-Samuelson Is Named Winner of Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times. February 25, 1986. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  62. 1 2 "Sports people: Track and field; Griffith Joyner Gets Sullivan Award". The New York Times. March 7, 1989. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  63. ↑ Pulliam, Kent (March 8, 1988). "Jim Abbott shocked after winning Sullivan". The Miami News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  64. ↑ Munoz, Theresa (March 3, 1992). "Powell Wins the Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  65. 1 2 "Plus: Amateur sports – Sullivan Award; Holdsclaw Gains Top Honor". The New York Times. February 19, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  66. ↑ "Speedskater Dan Jansen Wins Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times. February 28, 1995. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  67. ↑ "Baumgartner wins Sullivan Award". The New York Times. March 5, 1996. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  68. ↑ "Johnson is top amateur". The New York Times. March 15, 1997. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  69. ↑ Brill, Lauren. "Sisters First, Opponents Second for Miller Twins". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  70. ↑ "Gardner Wins Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times. April 17, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  71. ↑ Doogan, Brian (May 6, 2007). "America's finest". The Times. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  72. ↑ "Heisman winner Tebow named winner of 78th Sullivan Award". ESPN. April 2, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  73. ↑ "Amy Palmiero-Winters wins Sullivan Award". USA Today. April 15, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  74. ↑ "Evan Lysacek wins Sullivan Award for top amateur athlete". USA Today. March 15, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  75. ↑ "Andrew Rodriguez Wins Sullivan Award". US Military Academy. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  76. ↑ "Missy Franklin". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  77. ↑ "John Urschel". aausports.org. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  78. ↑ Lesmerises, Doug (April 19, 2015). "Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott wins Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete". cleveland.com. Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  79. ↑ "Keenan Reynolds Named Co-Winner of 2016 Sullivan Award". www.navysports.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  80. ↑ "Carlini wins Sullivan Award". www.uwbadgers.com. April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  81. ↑ "Ohio State wrestling champion Kyle Snyder wins Sullivan Award". ESPN. April 19, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  82. ↑ "Stanford's Kathryn Plummer wins Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete in US". San Francisco Chronicle. April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  83. ↑ "Sabrina Ionescu & Spencer Lee Crowned 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award Co-Winners Presented by Eastbay" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  84. ↑ Rieder, David (October 22, 2021). "Caeleb Dressel Announced as Recipient of James E. Sullivan Award". Swimming World. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  85. ↑ "Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore Wins the 92nd AAU James E. Sullivan Award" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  86. ↑ "Iowa Basketball Star Caitlin Clark Wins 93rd AAU James E. Sullivan Award" (Press release). Amateur Athletic Union. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.

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