To see all of our 2019 Swammy Awards, click here.
2019 US FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: SIMONE MANUEL
Simone Manuel (photo: Tim Binning)
Simone Manuel is known for coming through when it counts. Manuel, the reigning Olympic Champion in the 100 free, earned 7 medals at the 2019 FINA World Championships. That made her the first woman to win 7 medals in a single World Championships. She’s now tied as the 2nd most decorated female Worlds medalist, behind only Katie Ledecky.
Manuel pulled off a freestyle sprint sweep in Gwangju. Competing against the likes of World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom and former World Record holder Cate Campbell, she won her signature 100 free to earn back-to-back titles in the event with a new American Record. She also won her first Worlds title in the 50 free this year. She now has 4 career Worlds medals.
Manuel helped the USA to several relay medals, including a gold from the World Record-setting mixed 4×100 free relay. She was part of yet another World Record as a member of the women’s 4×100 medley relay team. Manuel helped the USA win silver in the women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 medley, and women’s 4×200 free.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
In no particular order
- Katie Ledecky– Though she got off to a rough start by her lofty standards at the 2019 World Championships, citing illness as her reason for scratching multiple events, Ledecky still earned 3 medals in Gwangju. She earned her 4th-straight title in the 800 free. Ledecky also took silver in the 400 free and got a silver as she helped the USA to a new American Record in the women’s 4×200 free.
- Regan Smith– Despite only swimming one individual events at Worlds, Smith set the World Record in both backstroke races. She smashed Missy Franklin’s World Record in the 200 back semis before going on to win gold in the final. Leading off the women’s 4×100 medley relay, Smith set a new World Record in the 100 back as she became the first woman to ever break 58 seconds. Her relay squad won gold in a new World Record.
- Lilly King– Reigning Olympic 100 breast champion King earned back-to-back titles in both the 50 breast and 100 breast at Worlds. She was also a member of the women’s 4×100 medley that set a new World Record. King won 4 total medals at Worlds, also getting a silver in the mixed 4×100 medley. In the ISL’s inaugural season with the Cali Condors, King went undefeated in the breaststroke events. She also became the first woman to go 4-for-4 in both breaststroke events in the NCAA Championships. She cemented her place in history as the first woman to swim sub-56 in the 100 breast at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.
Previous Winners:
- 2013 – Katie Ledecky
- 2014 – Katie Ledecky
- 2015 – Katie Ledecky
- 2016 – Katie Ledecky
- 2017 – Katie Ledecky
- 2018 – Katie Ledecky
- 2019 – Simone Manuel
Manuel & Smith were the only possible winners for me. Personally would have given it to Smith, she swam a time in the 200bk that I didn’t think we’d see for a very long time, but no gripes about Manuel getting the nod.
Lilly King DQed one of her events. Yes I know it’s controversial but if we’re going from a results perspective for that events that’s the equivalent of finishing last in the heats of the 200 breast.
But here’s why I’m still for King: she did NCAAs and ISL. So she took part in as many high level meets as she was eligible for and she did those remaining in a dominant fashion.
thats not a sound argument. would MP’s 8 gold medals in beijing have been much less impresive if he had swum an additional 5 events in all of which he’d finished last or DQ? nahh i dont think so
Could be Smith, Manuel, or King- I don’t see how people hands down take it away from Manuel – like besting SS and CC is just a walk in the park that all mostly knew that was going to happen. It was epic at the level of drama and surprise! I loved watching Reagan set her world records and LK win but it just wasn’t the same (even though it was fabulous). We just haven’t had an American female sprinter accomplish what SM has right out of a moment when (before Rio) when American women sprinting was declared DOA by so many. It’s great the we can have this debate about how great US swimming is at the moment!
My top 5:
1)Regan Smith. 2)Simone Manuel. 3)Lilly King. 4)Katie Ledecky. 5)Olivia Smoliga.
Reagan and King have really strong 2019 resumes to argue in their favor. King – total domination of her competition; Reagan – 3 world records. Both are very deserving. I’m not sure Ledecky earns HM this year, but I’m very excited for her this summer. But dang am I glad to see Simone get this. She’s chronically underestimated and undervalued (not necessarily by SS writers, but definitely by commenters here and the broadcast commentators on TV) and it really frustrates me. 52.0 and wins over the favorites every time, but she’s still belittled and sidelined because her relay performances aren’t good enough, apparently. Everyone recognizes that King is the best at her two events even though her relays are uninspiring,… Read more »
the hate for Simone is real! Congrats Simone. Keep it holding down for US sprinting against the world and ignore the hate
There’s no hate for Simone. In fact, there’s a LOT of respect. She’s earned respect. But she won the Golden Goggle award over Regan Smith already. This award is a gift. She didn’t earn it. Other swimmers (King and Smith) had stronger swims. It’s not even close. Ledecky won this award (and the Golden Goggle) when she smashed world records. Suddenly, the rules appear to have changed.
People like you bring the word “hate” to the discussion. I remember the interview with Simone after she just won Olympic gold medal. The girl was still overwhelmed with the feelings of joy, happiness and luck that happened to her. And do you know what was the first question she was asked by this stupidity with microphone? “Are you proud to be the first black woman to win gold medal in swimming?” Simone wasn’t even ready to answer such questions. That is how far she was from that at the moment. Later days after being instructed she answered similar questions the way they are supposed to be answered.
I’m not saying that there are no issues. And the win… Read more »
People like me? I never brought color into any of my cheering for Simone, Dressel, King or Ledecky. I just see on this site, a lot of people don’t give her the respect she deserves. It’s always luck, other’s bad starts or injuries, etc. She’s just been the best female sprinter on the big international stage the past 4 yrs. And that’s not including NCAAs.
the award is for 2019
no you dont see that, you misunderstand, just so we’re clear here
will a breaststroker ever win this award? Or can anyone be more impressive in one year, considered one can only be finishing his/her 4th year of NCAA once? or who else has this amount of success in one year in all 3 formats (SCY, LCM, SCM)?
I see and understand that Simone seems to be in the shadow of KL for several years, so for her to win both 50 and 100 free in WC (a spectacular and rare achievement!!), while KL has an off year, seems to be a good time to give her the award. But I do agree with the other’s sentiment that Regan’s 3 world record in 2 swims, or Lily’s year round dominance in SCY,… Read more »
for 2019
Simone = Sjöström/C1 slayer
Slaying them mentally and physically on the blocks and at the finish