Swimmer Katie Ledecky has been named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, selected by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors from across the country.
While international athletes are eligible for the award, the voters mostly cover American sports, so most winners have been American.
This is the 2nd time that Ledecky has won the honor, previously receiving it in 2017. She becomes the first female swimmer, and only the second swimmer besides Michael Phelps, to win the award multiple times.
The win comes after a change of scenery for the 25-year-old. After last summer’s Olympic Games, she moved to Gainesville, Florida to train as a professional at the University of Florida in what became the deepest international-caliber training group in the country. She also signed on as a volunteer assistant for the program, allowing her to travel and train with the undergraduates.
The change was fruitful: she went on to win four individual gold medals at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships. She finished first in the 400 free (3:58.15), 800 free (8:08.04), 1500 free (15:30.15), and as a crucial third leg of the winning 800 free relay (splitting 1:53.67 – fastest of the field).
Then, in short course, which Ledecky rarely swims, she broke a World Record in the 1500 short course meter free at the Toronto World Cup stop (15:08.24), and a week later broke the 800 free as well (7:57.42).
A total of 18 women have won the award multiple times in its 92-year history. That is led by golfer and track & field athlete Babe Dirdikson with 6 awards between 1932 and 1954.
The Male Athlete of the Year winner has not yet been announced for 2022.
2022 AP Female Athlete of the Year Final Voting
- Katie Ledecky, American swimmer (10 1st-place votes, 8 2nd-place votes, 4 3rd-place votes)
- Sydney McLaughlin, American track & field (9, 9, 4)
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA (2, 6, 10)
- Aliyah Boston, South Carolina college basketball (7, 6, 1)
- Iga Swiatek, Polish tennis player (4, 4, 6)
- Eileen Gu, American-born Chinese freestyle skier (3, 2, 4)
- Alexia Putellas, Spanish soccer player/Barcelona (0, 3, 2)
- Erin Jackson, American speed skater (2, 0, 2)
- Sam Kerr, Australian soccer player/Chelsea (1, 0, 2)
- Ons Jabeur, Tunisian tennis player (0, 1, 1)
All-time swimming winners
Americans unless otherwise noted.
Women:
- 1931 – Helen Madison (inaugural)
- 1937 – Katherine Rawls
- 1942 – Gloria Callen
- 1944 – Ann Curtis
- 1962 – Dawn Fraser (Australia)
- 1969 – Debbie Meyer
- 1996 – Amy Van Dyken
- 2017 – Katie Ledecky (1st win)
- 2022 – Katie Ledecky (2nd win)
Men:
- 1964 – Don Schollander
- 1972 – Mark Spitz
- 2008 – Michael Phelps (1st win)
- 2012 – Michael Phelps (2nd win)
Sue Bird
No woman has had a better year than Mikaela Shiffrin, in 2019. Won 17 World Cup races, competing all over the European winter mountains! Competing against the best Europeans, on their home snow, and in an European sport!
This award could go to Faith Kipyegon every year. Easily the most underrated female athlete of my lifetime. She’s so dominant she caused an all-time great like Sifan Hassan to change distances and change strategy. Hassan uses one style in every race not involving Kipyegon then is forced to totally alter her tactics when Kipyegon is there. They’ve had some awesome head-to-head sprint finishes over the past 9 years or so.
Probably Ledecky’s 5th or 6th best season of her last 10.
this is being downvoted but it’s probably true lol (which is a testament to how good she is)
I know its really an American award but seeing other internationals on there, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce should have been on the list. She was dominant this year.
Yeah awards like this, the ESPYs, that are “American but sometimes we give it to internationals” are always kind of quirky to me. I wish they’d define their terms better – though I know they’re just afraid that they’re going to have to give it to male soccer players every year.
As long as they call it “soccer” the internationals will get confused and tune out
Much deserved, congratulations. My only misgiving is seeing Swiatek as low as 5th – She was the dominant tennis player (male or female) of 2022 and deserves more recognition.
Sydney is an incredible athlete, but I think the voting panel got it right. Ledecky smashed the 800 and 1500 free SCM records, and she almost broke the 800 record en route to breaking the 1500. Ledecky was also 4th in the world in the 400 IM.
And she has been passed by in the 200/400.
Bullshiggidy!!!! Sydney was robbed!
Coached by Bob the chemist and MIA for 90% of the season before popping up and smashing the WR at Worlds, all before disappearing again for the remainder of the season. I’m a cynical bugger at the best of times but colour me sceptical, and bloody relieved Katie won.
Yeah right, a child prodigy is juiced. I guess ole Bob was juicing Allyson Felix too. Laughable swim fans shading other sports/coaches for cheating
Did not expect this comment from you lol.