James E. Sullivan Award

The AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), is awarded annually to "the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States".<ref name=sullivan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn

The award was established in 1930 in honor of the organization's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship, the AAU Sullivan Award "goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character".<ref name="sullivan" /> Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee.<ref name="nom" /> Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen,<ref name="nom" /> and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel.<ref name="naber" /><ref name="mccormick" /> More recently, a portion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="basketball" /> Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, and in 2023, Caitlin Clark became the first repeat winner.<ref name="nom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2xsully">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1999, 2015, 2019, and 2020, the award was shared between two co-recipients.

The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones, winner of 13 majors between 1923 and 1930.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 34 track and field athletes have won the AAU Sullivan Award—the most by any sport.

• A young man in a white shirt, dark tie and dark pants completing a right-handed golf swing
  Golfer Bobby Jones won the inaugural award in 1930.
• A woman in a T-shirt and shorts, crossing the finish line of a race in first place, ahead of a competitor
  Wilma Rudolph received the accolade in 1961.
• A man midway through a long jump leap. There is a metal chainlink fence in the background, both in front of which and behind are a number of spectators
  Track athlete Carl Lewis received the award in 1981.
• Peyton Manning won the award in 1997.
  Peyton Manning won the award in 1997.
• A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress
  Figure skater, Michelle Kwan, took the honor in 2001.
• A female ice skater in white boots and a red dress
  Swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps won the award in 2003.
• A female gymnast in a red leotard, looking down and to her left, with her right hand raised and her left hand across her waist. In the background sit a number of people including a cameraman, a photographer, a commentator and a judge
  Olympic gold-medalist, Shawn Johnson, won the award in 2008.
• Quarterback Keenan Reynolds was awarded the 86th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
  Quarterback Keenan Reynolds was awarded the 86th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
• Caitlin Clark won the award in 2022 and 2023, the first ever 2× winner.
  Caitlin Clark won the award in 2022 and 2023, the first ever 2× winner.

Winners

Award Year	Winner	Sport(s)	Reference
1930	Template:Sortname	Golf	<ref name=phelps/>
1931	Template:Sortname	Decathlon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1932	Template:Sortname		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1933	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1934	Template:Sortname		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1935	Template:Sortname	Golf	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1936	Template:Sortname	Decathlon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1937	Template:Sortname	Tennis	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1938	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1939	Template:Sortname	Rowing	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1940	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	<ref name=smith/>
1941	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance/cross country)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1942	Template:Sortname	Pole vault	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1943	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1944	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1945	Template:Sortname	Football	<ref name=football/>
1946	Template:Sortname		<ref name=football/>
1947	Template:Sortname	Rowing	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1948	Template:Sortname	Decathlon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1949	Template:Sortname	Figure skating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1950	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1951	Template:Sortname	Pole vault & decathlon	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1952	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1953	Template:Sortname	Diving	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1954	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1955	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1956	Template:Sortname	Diving	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1957	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1958	Template:Sortname		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1959	Template:Sortname	Shot put & discus	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1960	Template:Sortname	Decathlon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1961	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1962	Template:Sortname	Running (middle and long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1963	Template:Sortname	Pole vault	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1964	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1965	Template:Sortname	Basketball	<ref name=basketball/>
1966	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1967	Template:Sortname	Shot put & discus	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1968	Template:Sortname	Swimming	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1969	Template:Sortname	Decathlon	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1970	Template:Sortname	Swimming	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1971	Template:Sortname		<ref name=phelps/>
1972	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1973	Template:Sortname	Basketball	<ref name=basketball/>
1974	Template:Sortname	Running (middle distance)	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1975	Template:Sortname	Swimming	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1976	Template:Sortname Template:Efn	Decathlon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1977	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1978	Template:Sortname		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1979	Template:Sortname	Gymnastics	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1980	Template:Sortname	Speed skating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1981	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint) & long jump	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1982	Template:Sortname	Running (middle and long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1983	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1984	Template:Sortname	Diving	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1985	Template:Sortname	Running (long distance)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1987	Template:Sortname	Baseball	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1988	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	<ref name=flojo/>
1989	Template:Sortname	Swimming	<ref name=smith/>
1990	Template:Sortname	Wrestling	citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>
1991	Template:Sortname	Long jump	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1992	Template:Sortname	Speed skating	<ref name=holdsclaw/>
1993	Template:Sortname	Basketball & football	<ref name=football/>
1994	Template:Sortname	Speed skating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1995	Template:Sortname	Wrestling	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Template:Sortname	Running (sprint)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1997	Template:Sortname	Football	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998	Template:Sortname	Basketball	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Template:Sortname		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Kelly Miller
2000	Template:Sortname	Wrestling	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Template:Sortname	Figure skating	<ref name=button/>
2002	Template:Sortname		<ref name=phelps/>
2003	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004	Template:Sortname	Gymnastics	<ref name=gymnast/>
2005	Template:Sortname	Basketball	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2007	Template:Sortname	Football	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	Template:Sortname	Gymnastics	<ref name=gymnast/>
2009	Template:Sortname	Running (ultra marathon)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	Template:Sortname	Figure skating	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011	Template:Sortname	Football	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	Template:Sortname	Swimming	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013	Template:Sortname	Football	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2014	Template:Sortname		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2015	Template:Sortname		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Breanna Stewart	Basketball
2016	Template:Sortname	Volleyball	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2017	Template:Sortname	Wrestling	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018	Template:Sortname	Volleyball	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2019	Template:Sortname	Basketball	<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
	Spencer Lee	Wrestling
2020	Template:Sortname	Gymnastics	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Caeleb Dressel	Swimming
2021	Template:Sortname	Surfing	<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
2022	Template:Sortname	Basketball	<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
2023			<ref name="2xsully"/>
2024	Lexi Rodriguez	Volleyball	<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website