2019 Golden Goggles: LIVE Awards Show Recap

2019 Golden Goggles Awards

One of the biggest nights in swimming, the yearly USA Swimming Golden Goggles Awards gala, is happening tonight at the JW Marriott at LA Live in Los Angeles, California. You can follow along on the USA Swimming site. Below is the link:

View the 2019 Golden Goggles Here

For nearly two months, fans have been voting for each of the award categories, which will count for a portion of the final decision.

• Check out our official ballot here

Tentative Schedule (U.S. Pacific Time):

6:30 pm – Presentation of 2019 World Championships Team, Female Race of the Year, Male Race of the Year, Entertainment

7:15 pm – Dinner

8:15 pm – Silent Auction Ends, Live Auction begins 5 minutes later

8:30 pm – Remainder of the program, including the rest of the award presentations

After meeting the 2019 World Championships team, with special recognition to 2020 open water Olympic qualifiers Haley Anderson, Ashley Twichell, and Jordan Wilimovsky, we now meet tonight’s host, Matthew Broussard.

2019 GOLDEN GOGGLES NOMINEES – WINNERS

And now the first award of the evening, presented by 1976 Olympic gold medalist John Naber

Female Race of the Year — Regan Smith – 200m Backstroke semifinals

The lone world record performance of this category, Regan Smith certainly deserved this award. After placing 8th in her 2017 Worlds debut, this performance was crucial in solidifying her name on the world stage. At just 17 years old, she broke the world record during the 200 back semifinals, formerly held by Missy Franklin. She later sealed her first world title in the final.

Nominees:

• Simone Manuel – 100m Freestyle (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Katie Ledecky – 800m Freestyle (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Olivia Smoliga – 50m Backstroke (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Regan Smith – 200m Backstroke semifinals (2019 FINA World Championships) (SwimSwam Official Selection)
• Lilly King – 100m Breaststroke (2019 FINA World Championships)

Now it’s time for the men’s race of the year, presented by Olympic ice skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani

Male Race of the Year — Caeleb Dressel – 100m Butterfly semifinals (2019 FINA World Championships)

Dressel had a great shot at winning this category, 4 out of 5 odds to be exact. Yet of the four races, Dressel’s 100 fly was the race to come out on top. Known for his sprint freestyle, Dressel showed off his stellar butterfly skills by breaking his first individual world record. This record was special because he was able to take down Michael Phelps‘ 2009 super-suited 100 fly world record.

Nominees:

• Caeleb Dressel – 50m Freestyle (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Caeleb Dressel – 100m Freestyle (2019 FINA World Championships) (SwimSwam Official Selection)
• Caeleb Dressel – 50m Butterfly (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Caeleb Dressel – 100m Butterfly semifinals (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Jay Litherland – 400m IM (2019 FINA World Championships)

Grammy nominated artist Lukas Graham now takes the stage for entertainment.

Back from the break, Rowdy Gaines and Nathan Adrian presented their efforts with the Make A Splash Foundation. 

We resume with the awards with Breakout Performer, presented by Olympic champions Amanda Beard and Megan Quann Jedrick 

Breakout Performer of the Year — Regan Smith

While Flickinger, Litherland, and Moore impressed with their medal wins in Gwangju, it was incomparable to Regan Smith’s Worlds performance. Her dominant performance in her lone individual event, the 200 back, was able to earn her a spot on the 4×100 medley relay. Smith took advantage of this opportunity and took down her second backstroke world record of the meet. Just 3 minutes later, the relay broke the 2017 world record. And for that, Smith deserves this second Golden Goggle to her collection.

Nominees:

• Hali Flickinger
• Jay Litherland
• Hannah Moore
• Regan Smith (SwimSwam Official Selection)

Presenting the Perseverance Award is Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno and Casey Wasserman

Perseverance Award — Nathan Adrian

Nathan Adrian had a historic comeback after battling testicular cancer, which put a pause on his training preparations towards Worlds and the upcoming Olympics. At the 2019 World Championships, Adrian swam to a 3-medal haul, earning two golds and one silver. Among the highlights, his anchor leg on the men’s 4×100 free relay was able to hold off the Russians for the world title.

This award marks Adrian’s 4th Golden Goggle in his career.

Nominees:

• Nathan Adrian (SwimSwam Official Selection)
• Katie Ledecky
• Ashley Twichell

Presenting Coach of the Year is Olympian Jenny Thompson and Karen Moe

Coach of the Year — Mike Parratto

The head coach of Minnesota-based Riptide Swim Team, Mike Parratto certainly earned this award as Regan Smith is now his second prodigy along with 12-time Olympic medalist Jenny Thompson. Not only did he carve out Smith’s stellar backstroke, but also aided her butterfly capabilities, which earned her a national title in the 200-meter event.

Nominees:

• Jack Bauerle
• Ray Looze
• Greg Meehan (SwimSwam Official Selection)
• Mike Parratto
• Gregg Troy

Presenting Relay Performance of the Year is Olympic champion Lenny Krayzelburg and actor Greg Germann

Relay Performance of the Year — Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay (2019 FINA World Championships)

Now the third world record to win a Golden Goggle tonight, this women’s medley relay was a historic performance. The relay was first led off by Regan Smith, who gave Lilly King a big lead thanks to her world record-breaking efforts. King then handed it off to Kelsi Dahlia and Simone Manuel, making it the second-straight world record-breaking medley relay title for Team USA.

Nominees:

• Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay (2019 FINA World Championships)
• Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay (2019 FINA World Championships)

Presenting Male Athlete of the Year is 3-time Olympian Debbie Meyer

Male Athlete of the Year — Caeleb Dressel

Fans have known since day one of voting that Caeleb Dressel would be crowned Male Athlete of the Year, and there are many reasons why Dressel deserves this second Golden Goggle of the evening. Along with his 100 fly world record, Dressel won a record-breaking 8 medals at a single World championships, taking out his 2017 performance/Michael Phelps’ record of 7. In addition to this feat, Dressel now has the 3rd-most World gold medals of any male swimmer with 13 golds.

This is Dressel’s second time winning this category after winning in 2017. Spanning his career, this now marks his 6th Golden Goggle win.

Nominees:

• Caeleb Dressel (SwimSwam Official Selection)

7-time 1972 Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz will present this final award

Female Athlete of the Year — Simone Manuel

It was a stiff field among this year’s Female Athlete of the Year award, with all four women presenting incredible accomplishments. Lilly King defended both of her sprint breast world titles, Katie Ledecky overcame illness to win her signature 800 free, and Regan Smith walked away with 2 gold medals and 3 world records. 

Yet it was Simone Manuel who came out on top. At the 2019 World Championships, Manuel was deemed the fastest woman in the pool with her 50 and 100 free world titles. Not only that, she became the first woman to win 7 medals at a single world championships, just one short off of male counterpart Caeleb Dressel.

Nominees:

• Lilly King
• Katie Ledecky
• Simone Manuel (SwimSwam Official Selection)
• Regan Smith