Where Are the Swimmers? Sullivan Award Finalists Released

Where Are the Swimmers? Sullivan Award Finalists Released – No Aquatic Athletes Named

The finalists for the 96th AAU Sullivan Award have been introduced, and no swimmers are among the many 18 athletes named for the distinguished award. The Sullivan Award has been introduced yearly since 1930 to acknowledge the United States’ finest Olympic or collegiate athlete. In the previous, swimming honorees have included Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Mark Spitz, Janet Evans and Tracy Caulkins, amongst others.

Voting for the award is open to the public and the finalists chosen are recognzied for his or her performances throughout 2025. It is stunning to see Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh not listed among the many finalists, as their 2025 campaigns included world-record performances and world championships.

Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Ledecky broke her nine-year-old world file within the 800-meter freestyle throughout 2025, and exited the World Championships in Singapore with gold medals within the 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, together with a bronze medal within the 400 freestyle. As for Walsh, she broke the world file within the 100 butterfly and captured world championships within the 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly, along with wrapping up one of many biggest faculty swimming careers in historical past.

Here is a take a look at the athletes chosen as finalists for the Sullivan Award:

• Olivia Babcock, Volleyball, University of Pittsburgh
• Cameron Boozer, Basketball, Duke University
• Evan Bates & Madison Chock, Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating
• Azzi Fudd, Basketball, University of Connecticut
• Hannah Hidalgo, Basketball, University of Notre Dame
• Blake Horvath, Football, United States Naval Academy
• Erin Jackson, Speed Skating, U.S. Speedskating
• Grace Lau, Karate, Hong Kong Karate
• Alysa Liu, Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating
• Jeremiyah Love, Football, University of Notre Dame
• Ilona Maher, Rugby, USA Rugby
• Ilia Malinin, Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating
• Tatyana McFadden, Para Track & Field, USA Track & Field
• Fernando Mendoza, Football, Indiana University
• Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine Skiing, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
• Braden Smith, Basketball, Purdue University
• Zahid Valencia, Wrestling, USA Wrestling

The winner of the Sullivan Award can be introduced on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.