Boudia, Franklin & Steffens are semi finalists for James E. Sullivan Award
Boudia, Franklin & Steffens are semi finalists for James E. Sullivan Award
Three US Aquatic Athletes are among list of 15 semifinalists
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award "goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character".Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee. Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen, and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel. More recently, a proportion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public. Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, although this has yet to happen.
The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones, winner of 13 majors between 1923 and 1930. The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman, while the most recent winner was American Football player Andrew Rodriguez.
List of Past Recipients:
http://www.aausullivan.org/winners.html
David Boudia, USA Diving's Athlete of the Year, took home gold in the men's 10-meter platform at the 2012 Olympic Games. He became the first American man to do so since 1992 and the first American man to do so on platform since Greg Louganis in 1988. David also took home Olympic bronze in the synchronized 10-meter event.
Missy Franklin left the 2012 Olympics as the most decorated female of the Games from any country or in any sport, earning a total of five medals—four gold and one bronze. She broke Olympic and World records in the 100m and 200m back. Outside of the pool, Missy loves to give back to her community. She’s worked with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, Make-A-Wish Foundation and several others, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA
Maggie Steffens was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Olympics for water polo, Steffens led the U.S. women’s water polo team to an Olympic gold medal. She tied an Olympic record with seven goals scored in her first game as an Olympian, and went on to score a record 21 goals at the Games. Maggie capped off the year being named top female water polo player of 2012 by FINA, the international governing body for aquatics
