Caeleb Dressel has been named the Athlete of the Year at the United States Aquatics Sports (USAS) convention, which happened over the weekend in St. Louis. USAS is the recognized U.S. member of FINA for all FINA-sanctioned aquatic sports (swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo).
USA Swimming’s House of Delegates voted on this award, naming Dressel. Regan Smith, who broke World Records in both the 100 and 200 back at Worlds, won the Performance of the Year award at this convention for her 200 back gold medal swim.
Dressel is coming off of a very successful summer of 2019, where he claimed World Champs gold in four individual events and four additional relay medals (two gold, two silver). He also broke Michael Phelps’ world record in the 100 fly, broke the meet record in the 50 free, and set American records in the 50 free, 100 free, and 50 fly. This was Dressel’s second-ever award win in this category.
Athlete of the Year awards this decade:
2010: Ryan Lochte
2011: Ryan Lochte
2012: Missy Franklin
2013: Katie Ledecky
2014: Katie Ledecky
2015: Katie Ledecky
2016: Katie Ledecky
2017: Caeleb Dressel
2018: Katie Ledecky
2019: Caeleb Dressel
Michael Phelps won the USA Swimming Award, the first recently retired swimmer to win the award since Mary T. Meagher did so in 1989.
Smith was phenomenal. It’s hard to pass up rewarding two world records.
Dressel was phenomenal and set a WR and two textile bests. Ostensibly 3 WR’s.
Smith also only one one individual medal (and I think only one relay), compared to Dressel’s 8 medal, 4 individual gold haul.
Yeah I think, if Regan had been given the chance to wind up a full schedule she might have gotten there. But, Caeleb has to be the winner, for this year at least. That’s just too many medals, and don’t forget that he also broke a World Record. And of course, if Regan had to swim 8 events, she might not have had as much in her tank for the 2 she did swim. A lot of ‘what ifs.’
and 3 golds one night again!
he beat the 100 fly old record 2 times in a raw …..
If he’d done it in the raw, no telling what his endorsement value would be. That said, it’s rumored he changes in the stall, so there’s that.
u know what i meant ….thnanks for your Texan driven input lol
And also remember that his other 3 individual Golds were all American records and he’s the first American to win the 50 fly. Not as impressive as WR’s but still
He also faced much Higher level in each of his individual golds …..
It was the best swimmers in the world against Regan too. When you break world records by massive margins like she did the best don’t seem very challenging
and it was a Monstruous margin she had at the finish ..agreed .
All hail the king
the King is in town i heard ….
Somehow Ol’ Charmin will find fault with this
Water is ..uh… wet
thats a bold statement with a nickname like yours lol
Ragan Smith should have won
That’s a no from me, dawg!
how many golds did she gather again ?
Holy Cow, would have never expected it…
But on a real note, congrats to Caeleb!😁
I assume Phelps received the award prior to 2010?
most probably around 2007 – 2009