GOLDEN GOGGLES LIVE RECAP –
- Live Stream
- Official SwimSwam 2014 Golden Goggles Ballot
- USA Swimming Foundation Silent Auction – CLOSES at 8:30pm Eastern
AWARDS:
FEMALE RACE OF THE YEAR – KATIE LEDECKY
For her monster 1500 swim at this years Pan Pacs, Katie Ledecky earned the Female Race of the Year Award! Ledecky raced to a world record by nearly six seconds in a time of 15:28.36, surpassing her own previous mark. Ledecky’s next competitor in this particular race finished more than 40m behind her. This was one of Ledecky’s FOUR individual gold medals at a single Pan Pacific Games; the first woman ever to do so!
MALE RACE OF THE YEAR – CONNOR JAEGER
Jaeger walks away with the win for Male Race of the Year for his masterfully swum 1500 race at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships. This victory represented Jaeger’s first international gold medal, as he battled a tenacious Ryan Cochrane (Canada) throughout the race. Jaeger was able to get his hand on the wall first, in a time of 14:51.79, winning his first of three medals over the course of the Championships.
BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR – MAYA DIRADO
DiRado earned gold at the 2014 PanPacs in the 200IM, while also taking silver home to the United States in the 400IM. At Nationals this summer, DiRado added second place finishes in the 200mIM and 400m IM to her impressive 2014 NCAA Championship titles she had already earned in both events.
PERSEVERANCE AWARD – HALEY ANDERSON & ANDREW GEMMELL
Last-minute changes in the open water venue and timing this summer truly put these already hardened open water swimmers to the test. The 2014 PanPacs Open Water swim was moved from Australia to Hawaii to coincide with the Junior Pan Pacs, but Anderson and Gemmell both earned gold in the 10-km open water swims to demonstrate perseverance in this grueling event.
COACH OF THE YEAR – BRUCE GEMMELL
Ledecky’s coach helped guide her to gold in the 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events at Pan Pacs while serving as an assistant coach for Team USA at the meet. Gemmell’s son, Andrew Gemmell, later earned gold in the men’s 10k open water event at PanPacs as well.
RELAY PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – WOMEN’S 4 X 200M FREE RELAY (VREELAND, FRANKLIN, SMITH, LEDECKY)
The women tore it up at PanPacs, winning gold in a time of 7:46.40, clocking a new Pan Pacs record in the process. Ledecky’s anchor leg of 1:54.36 was more than a second faster than the rest of the field, as she was able to pull ahead of Australia’s Melanie Schlanger for the gold.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – MICHAEL PHELPS
– Separate post will follow
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – KATIE LEDECKY
– Separate post will follow
Its not just one decision swimmer4lyfe. That is the 2nd dui he has received. And numerous other times he did it and didn’t get pulled over
Yes, Michael Phelps has done so much for the sport of swimming in the past two decades, yet he has proven how one bad decision can throw it all away. I applaud Phelps for seeking the help he deserves, however, this prestigious award should be given to someone who consistently sets a positive example.
Congrats Michael! You are still the best. We all want you back in the sport.
Phelps does not deserve it.
This was the first time that I have actually watched the Golden Goggles, and I’m mostly pleased because a lot of the people I voted for won. But I don’t necessarily agree with Phelps winning, it should have been Clary. But whatevs, GO TEAM USA!!!
I agree with you, It should definitely have been Clary. Phelps is great but he doesn’t deserve this award.
I hope that cheers Phelps up a bit to know that he can still win athlete of the year even with less than a full year on the comeback trail.