Missy Franklin Wins AAU’s Sullivan Award As Nation’s Top Amateur Athlete

Missy Franklin has been named the winner of the 83rd annual Sullivan Award, which is handed out by the Amateur Athletic Union to the world’s top amateur athlete every year.

Franklin won the honor over fellow finalists Liz Brenner, a four-sport athlete at the University of Oregon, and junior weightlifter Darren Barnes.

The award was presented at a ceremony at the AAU Headquarters in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Saturday. She becomes the 12th swimmer to win the award in its long and prestigious history.

  • Ann Curtis 1944
  • Don Schollander 1964
  • Debbie Meyer 1968
  • John Kinsella 1970
  • Mark Spitz 1971
  • Tim Shaw 1975
  • John Naber 1977
  • Tracy Caulkins 1978
  • Janet Evans 1989
  • Michael Phelps 2003
  • Jessica Long 2006
  • Missy Franklin 2013

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Tea
10 years ago

That is one heck of a picture.

aswimfan
10 years ago

What year was Biondi made a finalist?
Was that 1989 when he went against Evans or before?

He must have had very strong competitors.

aswimfan
Reply to  aswimfan
10 years ago

Because I’d rate Biondi’s 1988 far stronger than Franklin’s 2012.

WHOKNOWS
10 years ago

For a swimmer to be awarded the Sullivan Award is a big accomplishment. The AAU has a small swimming program geared to the novice level swimmers.
Check out her acceptance speech
http://aausports.org/News/ArticleDetail.aspx?Title=Missy+Franklin+awarded+83rd+AAU+Sullivan+Award&ArticleID=4881

cynthia curran
10 years ago

You can earn money and win the Sullivan Award ,Sarah Hughes won it and made money on the Tom Collins ice shows and a few endorsements in Figure Skating The swimmers before Phelps didn’t earn money.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

The boy is very small! The girls are very tall! Congrats Missy!

CoachGB
10 years ago

Awesome list she joins and deserves.

Cabry
10 years ago

As far as I can tell it’s for the top American amateur athlete. Sullivan award is presented by the American AAU. Either way, congrats Missy!

Niemannator
10 years ago

Phelps turned pro in 2001, how could he have won this award in 2003?

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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