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James E. Sullivan Award

American amateur athletics award

American amateur athletics award

FieldValue
nameAAU 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.
presenterAmateur Athletic Union
countryUnited States
year1930
year2
holderLexi Rodriguez (2024)
website

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.

File:BobbyJonesAge14.jpg|Golfer Bobby Jones won the inaugural award in 1930.|alt=A young man in a white shirt, dark tie and dark pants completing a right-handed golf swing File:Wilma Rudolph.jpg|Wilma Rudolph received the accolade in 1961. |alt=A woman in a T-shirt and shorts, crossing the finish line of a race in first place, ahead of a competitor File:Carl Lewis as a University of Houston athlete.jpg|Track athlete Carl Lewis received the award in 1981.|alt=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 File:Peyton Manning passing.jpg|Peyton Manning won the award in 1997. File:Michelle Kwan.jpg|Figure skater, Michelle Kwan, took the honor in 2001.|alt=A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress File:Michael Phelps conquista 20ª medalha de ouro e é ovacionado 1036416-09082016- mg 6640 01 (cropped).jpg| Swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps won the award in 2003.|alt=A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress File:Shawn Johnson competes cropped.jpg|Olympic gold-medalist, Shawn Johnson, won the award in 2008.|alt=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 File:Keenan Reynolds.jpg|Quarterback Keenan Reynolds was awarded the 86th AAU James E. Sullivan Award. File:Caitlin Clark vs. Minnesota (cropped).jpg| Caitlin Clark won the award in 2022 and 2023, the first ever 2× winner.

Winners

Award YearWinnerSport(s)Reference
1930Golf
1931Decathlon
1932
1933Running (middle distance)
1934
1935Golf
1936Decathlon
1937Tennis
1938Running (long distance)
1939Rowing
1940Running (long distance)
1941Running (middle distance/cross country)
1942Pole vault
1943Running (middle distance)
1944Swimming
1945Football
1946
1947Rowing
1948Decathlon
1949Figure skatingtitle=Hughes skates to Sullivan honorfirst=Ricklast=Freemandate=March 18, 2003url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2003-03-18-sullivan-award-hughes_x.htmwork=USA Todayaccess-date=February 24, 2010archive-date=June 4, 2011archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604113529/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2003-03-18-sullivan-award-hughes_x.htmurl-status=live}}
1950Running (long distance)
1951Pole vault & decathlon
1952Running (long distance)
1953Diving
1954Running (middle distance)
1955Running (sprint)
1956Divingwork = St. Petersburg Timesurl = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19570101&id=TM4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NnYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5107,103870title = Pat McCormick Named Sullivan Award Winnerdate = January 15, 1957access-date=February 25, 2010}}
1957Running (sprint)
1958
1959Shot put & discus
1960Decathlon
1961Running (sprint)
1962Running (middle and long distance)
1963Pole vault
1964Swimming
1965Basketball
1966Running (middle distance)
1967Shot put & discus
1968Swimming
1969Decathlon
1970Swimming
1971
1972Running (long distance)
1973Basketball
1974Running (middle distance)
1975Swimming
1976Decathlon
1977Swimmingurl = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1951&dat=19780207&id=lx4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_4cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2764,1477477archive-url = https://archive.today/20130124183008/http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1951&dat=19780207&id=lx4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_4cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2764,1477477url-status = deadarchive-date = January 24, 2013title = John Naber wins Sullivan Awardwork = Tri-City Heraldaccess-date = February 25, 2010date = February 7, 1978 }}
1978
1979Gymnasticsurl = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-04-16-johnson-sullivan-award-gymastics_N.htmtitle = Gymnast, TV dancer Shawn Johnson wins Sullivan Awardwork = USA Todayaccess-date = February 25, 2010date = April 16, 2009first = Robertlast = Hanashiroarchive-date = April 19, 2009archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090419132600/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-04-16-johnson-sullivan-award-gymastics_N.htmurl-status = live }}
1980Speed skating
1981Running (sprint) & long jump
1982Running (middle and long distance)
1983Running (sprint)
1984Diving
1985Running (long distance)
1986Running (sprint)url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/07/sports/sports-people-track-and-field-griffith-joyner-gets-sullivan-award.html?pagewanted=1work = The New York Timesaccess-date = February 25, 2010date = March 7, 1989title = Sports people: Track and field; Griffith Joyner Gets Sullivan Awardarchive-date = January 8, 2016archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108003622/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/07/sports/sports-people-track-and-field-griffith-joyner-gets-sullivan-award.html?pagewanted=1url-status = live }}
1987Baseball
1988Running (sprint)
1989Swimming
1990Wrestlingurl = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19910312&id=jbwMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RV8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6615,1255101title = Wrestler locks up Sullivanwork = St. Petersburg Timesdate = March 12, 1991access-date = February 25, 2010 }}
1991Long jump
1992Speed skating
1993Basketball & football
1994Speed skating
1995Wrestling
1996Running (sprint)
1997Footballurl = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-12-sp-18465-story.htmltitle = Tennessee's Manning Wins Sullivan as Top Amateuraccess-date = February 25, 2010date = February 12, 1998work = Los Angeles Timesarchive-date = October 22, 2012archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022080226/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/feb/12/sports/sp-18465url-status = live }}
1998Basketballurl = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/19/sports/plus-amateur-sports-sullivan-award-holdsclaw-gains-top-honor.htmlwork = The New York Timesaccess-date = February 25, 2010date = February 19, 1999title = Plus: Amateur sports – Sullivan Award; Holdsclaw Gains Top Honorarchive-date = May 27, 2015archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150527103405/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/19/sports/plus-amateur-sports-sullivan-award-holdsclaw-gains-top-honor.htmlurl-status = live }}
1999
Kelly Miller
2000Wrestling
2001Figure skating
2002
2003Swimmingurl=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2004-04-13-sullivan-award-phelps_x.htmwork=USA Todayaccess-date=February 25, 2010date=April 13, 2004first=Ricklast=Freemantitle=Phelps joins prestigious Sullivan listarchive-date=June 4, 2011archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114730/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2004-04-13-sullivan-award-phelps_x.htmurl-status=live}}
2004Gymnastics
2005Basketballurl = https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2406893publisher = ESPNtitle = Redick beats out Young, Bush for Sullivan Awarddate = April 13, 2006access-date = February 25, 2010archive-date = June 4, 2011archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114724/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2406893url-status = live}}
2006Swimming
2007Football
2008Gymnastics
2009Running (ultra marathon)url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2010-04-15-palmiero-winters-wins-sullivan-award_N.htmtitle=Amy Palmiero-Winters wins Sullivan Awardwork=USA Todayaccess-date=April 17, 2010date=April 15, 2010archive-date=April 19, 2010archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419175039/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2010-04-15-palmiero-winters-wins-sullivan-award_N.htmurl-status=live}}
2010Figure skatingurl=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-03-15-evan-lysacek-sullivan-award_N.htmtitle=Evan Lysacek wins Sullivan Award for top amateur athletework=USA Todayaccess-date=March 15, 2011date=March 15, 2011archive-date=March 17, 2011archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317102851/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-03-15-evan-lysacek-sullivan-award_N.htmurl-status=live}}
2011Footballurl=http://www.goarmysports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032012aab.htmltitle=Andrew Rodriguez Wins Sullivan Awardwork=US Military Academyaccess-date=March 21, 2012date=March 20, 2012url-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428214940/http://www.goarmysports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032012aab.htmlarchive-date=April 28, 2012 }}
2012Swimmingurl = http://www.aausullivan.org/winners_2012.htmlarchive-url = https://archive.today/20130902234759/http://www.aausullivan.org/winners_2012.htmlurl-status = deadarchive-date = September 2, 2013title = Missy Franklinpublisher = Amateur Athletic Unionaccess-date = June 10, 2013}}
2013Footballurl = http://aausports.org/News/View-Story/ArtMID/1108/ArticleID/53190/John-Urschel-Named-84th-James-E-Sullivan-Award-Winnertitle = John Urschelpublisher = aausports.orgaccess-date = April 11, 2014url-status = deadarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140417021442/http://www.aausports.org/News/View-Story/ArtMID/1108/ArticleID/53190/John-Urschel-Named-84th-James-E-Sullivan-Award-Winnerarchive-date = April 17, 2014df = mdy-all}}
2014
2015
Breanna StewartBasketball
2016Volleyball
2017Wrestlingurl = http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/23232105/ohio-state-buckeyes-wrestler-kyle-snyder-wins-sullivan-award-top-amateur-athletetitle = Ohio State wrestling champion Kyle Snyder wins Sullivan Awardwork = ESPNdate = April 19, 2018access-date = July 8, 2018archive-date = June 19, 2018archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140246/http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/23232105/ohio-state-buckeyes-wrestler-kyle-snyder-wins-sullivan-award-top-amateur-athleteurl-status = live }}
2018Volleyball
2019Basketball
Spencer LeeWrestling
2020Gymnastics
Caeleb DresselSwimming
2021Surfing
2022Basketball
2023
2024Lexi RodriguezVolleyball

Notes

References

References

  1. "The Sullivan Award – Overview". [[Amateur Athletic Union]].
  2. Scott, Roxanna. (April 8, 2009). "Beijing Olympians highlight Sullivan ballot". USA Today.
  3. "Guidelines for nomination of an amateur athlete". [[Amateur Athletic Union]].
  4. (April 24, 2024). "Iowa's Caitlin Clark first 2-time winner of Sullivan Award". [[ESPN]].
  5. "Robert T. Jones". [[Amateur Athletic Union]].
  6. (August 10, 2001). "The History of the AAC". BBC Sport.
  7. "Ann Curtis". [[Amateur Athletic Union]].
  8. "Bernard Ernst Berlinger". University of Pennsylvania Archives.
  9. "James Bausch". USA Track & Field.
  10. "Glenn Cunningham". USA Track & Field.
  11. Edward Seldon Sears. (2001). "Running Through The Ages". McFarland & Company.
  12. (May 1, 2008). "USGA Acquires Sullivan Award From Family Of Champ Lawson Little Jr.". [[United States Golf Association]].
  13. "Glenn Morris". USA Track & Field.
  14. Schwartz, Larry. "In big matches, he wouldn't budge". ESPN.
  15. "Don Lash". USA Track & Field.
  16. (January 14, 2008). "Former Penn Rower Joe Burk Passes Away". University of Pennsylvania Athletics.
  17. (March 31, 2006). "Leslie MacMitchell, 85; First Undergrad to Win Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  18. "Cornelius (Dutch) Warmerdam". USA Track & Field.
  19. McGowen, Roscoe. (December 30, 1943). "Dodds Takes Sullivan Trophy in Poll of Sports Leaders by A.A.U.". The New York Times.
  20. "The International Swimming Hall of Fame's Timeline of Women's Swimming History".
  21. (May 25, 2007). "USOC seeks nominations for Jack Kelly Fair Play Award". Beijing Olympics 2008.
  22. "Bob Mathias". USA Track & Field.
  23. Freeman, Rick. (March 18, 2003). "Hughes skates to Sullivan honor". USA Today.
  24. (January 11, 2002). "On the Button". BBC Sport.
  25. "Fred Wilt". USA Track & Field.
  26. (December 27, 1999). "The 50 Greatest Illinois Sports Figures".
  27. "Horace Ashenfelter". USA Track & Field.
  28. "Dr. Sammy Lee (USA) – 1968 Honor Diver". [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]].
  29. "Mal (Marvelous Mal) Whitfield". USA Track & Field.
  30. "Harrison Dillard". USA Track & Field.
  31. (January 15, 1957). "Pat McCormick Named Sullivan Award Winner". [[St. Petersburg Times]].
  32. "Bobby Morrow". USA Track & Field.
  33. "Glenn Davis". USA Track & Field.
  34. "William (Parry) O'Brien". USA Track & Field.
  35. "Rafer Johnson". USA Track & Field.
  36. "Wilma Rudolph". USA Track & Field.
  37. "Jim Beatty". USA Track & Field.
  38. Thomas Jr., Robert McG.. (September 29, 1993). "John Pennel, First Pole-Vaulter To Clear 17 Feet, Is Dead at 53". The New York Times.
  39. Mason, Emily. (November 2005). "Still Kicking". [[Swimming World Magazine]].
  40. "Jim Ryun". USA Track & Field.
  41. "Randy Matson". USA Track & Field.
  42. Kirshenbaum, Jerry. (August 31, 1970). "Now Look Who's An Old Lady".
  43. Reed, William F.. (September 12, 1971). "The Ineligible Married Man".
  44. Field, Mike. (September 10, 1979). "Channeling His Energy".
  45. "Frank Shorter". USA Track & Field.
  46. Putnam, Pat. (February 16, 1976). "Wohlhuter's Better Half".
  47. Cazeneuve, Brian. (December 8, 2003). "Tim Shaw, Olympic Swimmer".
  48. Buzz Bissinger. (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner".
  49. (June 12, 2007). "Jenner named to USATF Foundation Board of Directors". USA Track & Field.
  50. (February 7, 1978). "John Naber wins Sullivan Award". [[Tri-City Herald]].
  51. "Tracy Caulkins Super Scholarship". University of Florida Foundation.
  52. Hanashiro, Robert. (April 16, 2009). "Gymnast, TV dancer Shawn Johnson wins Sullivan Award". USA Today.
  53. (February 3, 1981). "Eric Heiden wins Sullivan Award". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
  54. (February 16, 1982). "Sullivan award to Carl Lewis". The New York Times.
  55. "Mary Slaney (Decker)". USA Track & Field.
  56. Kirkpatrick, Curry. (July 30, 1984). "The Man Who Never Loses".
  57. Flatter, Ron. "Louganis never lost drive to dive". ESPN.
  58. (February 25, 1986). "Benoit-Samuelson Is Named Winner of Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  59. (March 7, 1989). "Sports people: Track and field; Griffith Joyner Gets Sullivan Award". The New York Times.
  60. Pulliam, Kent. (March 8, 1988). "Jim Abbott shocked after winning Sullivan". [[The Miami News]].
  61. (October 2017). "Wrestler locks up Sullivan". [[St. Petersburg Times]].
  62. Munoz, Theresa. (March 3, 1992). "Powell Wins the Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  63. (February 28, 1995). "Speedskater Dan Jansen Wins Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  64. (March 5, 1996). "Baumgartner wins Sullivan Award". The New York Times.
  65. (March 15, 1997). "Johnson is top amateur". The New York Times.
  66. (February 12, 1998). "Tennessee's Manning Wins Sullivan as Top Amateur". Los Angeles Times.
  67. (February 19, 1999). "Plus: Amateur sports – Sullivan Award; Holdsclaw Gains Top Honor". The New York Times.
  68. Brill, Lauren. "Sisters First, Opponents Second for Miller Twins". [[Women's National Basketball Association]].
  69. (April 17, 2001). "Gardner Wins Sullivan Award". Los Angeles Times.
  70. Freeman, Rick. (April 13, 2004). "Phelps joins prestigious Sullivan list". USA Today.
  71. (April 13, 2006). "Redick beats out Young, Bush for Sullivan Award". ESPN.
  72. Doogan, Brian. (May 6, 2007). "America's finest". The Times.
  73. (April 2, 2008). "Heisman winner Tebow named winner of 78th Sullivan Award". ESPN.
  74. (April 15, 2010). "Amy Palmiero-Winters wins Sullivan Award". USA Today.
  75. (March 15, 2011). "Evan Lysacek wins Sullivan Award for top amateur athlete". USA Today.
  76. (March 20, 2012). "Andrew Rodriguez Wins Sullivan Award". US Military Academy.
  77. "Missy Franklin". [[Amateur Athletic Union]].
  78. "John Urschel". aausports.org.
  79. (April 19, 2015). "Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott wins Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete". [[Plain Dealer]].
  80. "Keenan Reynolds Named Co-Winner of 2016 Sullivan Award".
  81. (April 11, 2017). "Carlini wins Sullivan Award".
  82. (April 19, 2018). "Ohio State wrestling champion Kyle Snyder wins Sullivan Award". [[ESPN]].
  83. (April 16, 2019). "Stanford's Kathryn Plummer wins Sullivan Award as top amateur athlete in US". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
  84. (April 29, 2020). "Sabrina Ionescu & Spencer Lee Crowned 90th AAU James E. Sullivan Award Co-Winners Presented by Eastbay". Amateur Athletic Union.
  85. Rieder, David. (October 22, 2021). "Caeleb Dressel Announced as Recipient of James E. Sullivan Award". [[Swimming World]].
  86. (December 8, 2022). "Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore Wins the 92nd AAU James E. Sullivan Award". Amateur Athletic Union.
  87. (September 19, 2023). "Iowa Basketball Star Caitlin Clark Wins 93rd AAU James E. Sullivan Award". Amateur Athletic Union.
  88. (April 15, 2025). "Lexi Rodriguez becomes first Nebraska volleyball star to win AAU Sullivan Award". Omaha World-Herald.
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