World Aquatics has announced its nominees for the prestigious Swimmer of the Year award. The list includes five women and five men who performed exceptionally well in 2024. These swimmers have not only achieved greatness but have also inspired many around the world. The award is highly anticipated each year, with the winners chosen through a mix of public votes on Instagram and decisions from a committee.
Women’s Nominees
Katie Ledecky (USA)
Katie Ledecky is a name everyone knows in the swimming world. In the 2024 Olympics, she won four medals. She grabbed two golds in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events. This made her the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history with 14 total medals, including nine golds. Her achievements have been remarkable, and she continues to inspire young swimmers globally.
Summer McIntosh (Canada)
Summer McIntosh was a standout swimmer in Paris, winning three individual gold medals. She took home gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 400m individual medley. At such a young age, her future in swimming looks bright.
Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
Kaylee McKeown made history by sweeping both the 100m and 200m backstrokes at two consecutive Olympic Games. This rare achievement was last done by East German swimmer Roland Matthes in 1968 and 1972.
Sarah Sjöström (Sweden)
At 30 years old, Sarah Sjöström became the second-oldest woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal. She won both the 50m and 100m freestyle events in Paris. She is now the oldest woman to win two individual Olympic swimming golds by more than three years.
Regan Smith (USA)
Regan Smith had an incredible performance at the 2024 Olympics, winning five medals. She also set a new world record in the 100m backstroke during the Olympic Trials, further cementing her place as one of the top swimmers of the year.
Men’s Nominees
Bobby Finke (USA)
Bobby Finke successfully defended his 1500m freestyle Olympic gold from the last Olympics. He was also one of the two swimmers who broke an individual world record in Paris.
Léon Marchand (France)
Léon Marchand was unstoppable in Paris. He won four individual gold medals, a rare feat only achieved by a few swimmers. His victories came in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, and both the 200m and 400m individual medleys.
Kristóf Milák (Hungary)
Kristóf Milák won gold in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 200m butterfly. His strong performance in these events earned him a spot among the top male swimmers of 2024.
Pan Zhanle (China)
Pan Zhanle made headlines by winning the 100m freestyle at the Olympics. He also broke the world record by four-tenths of a second, making him one of the fastest swimmers in history.
Daniel Wiffen (Ireland)
Daniel Wiffen won gold in the 800m freestyle with an Olympic record time. He also earned a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle. His performance brought great pride to Ireland.
Previous Winners
In 2023, Kaylee McKeown and Qin Haiyang (China) won the Swimmer of the Year awards. Ledecky had previously won the award in 2022, and Caeleb Dressel was the men’s winner in 2021.
Other Categories
World Aquatics also recognized athletes in other categories, including the World Diver of the Year, World Water Polo Player of the Year, and World Artistic Swimmer of the Year. Some of the nominees in these categories include American swimmers Adrian Weinberg and Kenny Gaudet. Winners for these categories will also be determined through public voting on World Aquatics’ Instagram and the nomination committee.
Voting Process
The public plays a big role in deciding the winners. Fans can cast their votes for their favorite swimmers on World Aquatics’ Instagram page. The final decision will be a mix of public votes and a selection by a nomination committee.
This year’s nominees have worked hard, and their performances have been extraordinary. Everyone is excited to see who will take home the Swimmer of the Year title.
Also Read: World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 Incheon: Top Contenders
