sOn December 7th, members of the US Olympic swimming team gathered in Miami Beach to celebrate their accomplishments in 2021. On the red carpet, the swimmers had the opportunity to show off their own unique styles in a manner that goes beyond swimsuit, cap, and goggles. Olympic silver medalist Erica Sullivan told us that she was wearing a combination of Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, and Steve Madden. Dress code for this year’s Golden Goggles was ‘Miami chic,’ meaning athletes could “dress-down” a little at this otherwise ‘black tie optional’ event.
Sullivan was nominated for the Perseverance Award this year, though it was Annie Lazor who won. The award was presented by Anthony Ervin, the 2016 winner of the Perseverance Award, and 29-time Paralympic medalist Jessica Long.
Sullivan, who graduated high school in the spring of 2018, is also in her first year at the University of Texas in Austin. Sullivan took 3 gap years after graduating high school–first in order to join the team at USC following the 2020 Olympic Games, and then another year after coaching changes at USC and because of the one-year deferral of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, Sullivan announced that she had switched her commitment to the University of Texas.
At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Sullivan won the silver medal in the women’s 1500 meter freestyle behind fellow teammate Katie Ledecky. The Tokyo 2020 marked the debut of the women’s 1500 meter freestyle in the Olympics.
See who won which awards at the 2021 Golden Goggles here.
WINNERS
Breakout Performer of the Year: Lydia Jacoby
Perseverance Award: Annie Lazor
Female Athlete of the Year: Katie Ledecky
Male Athlete of the Year: Caeleb Dressel
Relay Performance of the Year: Men’s 4 x 100 Medley Relay, Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple
Female Race of the Year: Lydia Jacoby, Women’s 100 Breaststroke Olympic Final
Male Race of the Year: Bobby Finke, Men’s 800 Freestyle Olympic Final
Coach of the Year: Gregg Troy
Impact Award: Bob Vincent & Cecil Gordon
