PHOENIX, Arizona, November 19. IN just two weeks, Swimming World Magazine will announce this year's World Swimmers of the Year. At that time, the world will see just how close the 2006 races were for our distinguished swimming experts. We also will be introducing this year's American, African, European and Pacific Rim Region Swimmers of the Year
SwimmingWorldMagazine.com Rewind will travel back through the years to reminisce about previous winners throughout the next month in anticipation of this year's celebration.
Today's Rewind checks out the 2002 winners: Ian Thorpe and Natalie Coughlin.
Here is an excerpt of the story written by Judy Jacob in the December issue of 2002:
A year ago, Australia's Ian Thorpe was superhuman, setting five world records on his way to earning his second straight male World Swimmer of the Year honors from Swimming World. By comparison, in 2002, Ian was but a mere mortal–only one world record and two No. 1 world rankings.
Still, Swimming World's panel of distinguished swimming experts felt Thorpe was deserving of his third straight title and fifth in the last six years.
Among the women, it was the United States' Natalie Coughlin who turned in super-human efforts to become the nearly unanimous pick as Swimming World's female World Swimmer of the Year. Natalie, winning the award for the first time, set the first long course world record of her career as well as three national marks.
For the complete Swimming World Magazine article on the 2002 World Swimmers of the Year, click here.
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