Phelps, Stockbauer Named 2003’s “World Swimmers of the Year”

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 3. THE USA’s Michael Phelps and Germany’s Hannah Stockbauer were named male and female World Swimmer of the Year, respectively, today by Swimming World magazine.

The selection, made by the magazine’s editors, foreign correspondents and an international panel of distinguished swimming writers, was announced in the December issue of Swimming World, published today.

Phelps is the first American man to win the coveted award since Mike Barrowman in 1989 and 1990. Stockbauer is the first German woman to be recognized as the top female swimmer in the world since Franziska van Almsick in 1993.

Phelps
The selection of the 18 year-old Phelps, who set three world records and five American records this year and won three individual gold medals at the FINA World Championships, held in Barcelona, was unanimous.

Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, who set world records in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke in winning gold in Barcelona, was second and Russia’s ageless Alex Popov, winner of two individual events at the World Championships, placed third in the balloting. Australia’s Ian Thorpe, who won the award the past two years and four of the last five, was fourth.

Stockbauer
The unheralded Stockbauer, 21, graces the cover of the December issue of Swimming World. The only swimmer beside Phelps to win three individual gold medals in Barcelona, she set a European record in the 1500 meters freestyle in a time that makes her the second fastest woman all-time in the event. Only Janet Evans has swum faster.

Close behind Stockbauer in the balloting was Ukraine’s Yana Klochkova, a double winner at the World Championships, followed by the USA’s Amanda Beard, who equaled the global standard in the 200 meter breaststroke in striking gold in Spain.

Phelps' Achievements
Phelps, of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, had an epic year in 2003, one that led to comparisons with the great Mark Spitz and speculation that in Athens next year the teenager will try to equal Spitz’s astonishing feat of winning seven gold medals, all in world record time. During the course of the year, Phelps broke world records eight times in four different events – the 100 (51.47sf) and 200 meter butterfly (1:53.93), and the 200 (1:55.94) and 400 meter individual medley (4:09.09).

He also set American records in the 200 (1:45.99, second in the world in '03) and 400 meter freestyle (3:46.73, third globally) and swam the world’s second fastest time of ‘03 in the 200 meter backstroke, an "off event." He now ranks third all-time in the 200 back, trailing only Aaron Peirsol and Lenny Krayzelburg.

In the 200 IM, the teen phenom lowered the global standard four different times, winding up at 1:55.94. No one else has ever swum under 1:58. His longtime coach, Bob Bowman, predicts the young man will be even faster next year.

Stockbauer's Achievements
In 2003, Stockbauer, who swims for her hometown SSG Erlangen swim club, blossomed into the world’s best female distance swimmer. She was the only woman to win three individual gold medals in Barcelona and, at year’s end, is the only woman to rank first globally in three events: the 400 (4:06.75), 800 (8:23.66, seventh performer all-time) and 1500 meters freestyle. Coached by Roland Boller, she swam 16:00.18 in the 1500, barely missing becoming only the second woman to crack 16 minutes for the distance.

European, American and Pacific Rim Swimmers of the Year
In the balloting for regional Swimmers of the Year, the results were as follows:

European Men:
1. Alex Popov (RUS)
2. Thomas Rupprath (GER)
3. Laszlo Cseh (HUN)
Pieter v.d. Hoogenband (NED)

European Women:
1. Hannah Stockbauer (GER)
2. Yana Klochkova (UKR)
3. Inge De Bruijn (NED)

American Men:
1. Michael Phelps
2. Aaron Peirsol
3. Ian Crocker

American Women:
1. Amanda Beard
2. Jenny Thompson
3. Lindsay Benko

Pacific Rim Men:
1. Kosuke Kitajima (JPN)
2. Ian Thorpe (AUS)
3. Grant Hackett (AUS)

Pacific Rim Women:
1. Leisel Jones (AUS)
2. Luo Xuejuan
3. Alice Mills (AUS)

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