Swimming World Magazine Announces Male and Female World Swimmers of the Year

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Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine

Each year Swimming World Magazine selects the top male and female swimmers for the following regions: Africa, the Pacific Rim, Europe, America, and World. Starting today, Swimming World will announce the top athletes in each region leading up to the announcement of the Male and Female World Swimmers of the Year on December 1st.

Male World Swimmer of the Year Sponsored by Competitor

Adam Peaty finished runner-up to Japan’s Hosuke Hagino in 2014 as Swimming World’s Male World Swimmer of the Year. A year later, he became Great Britain’s first swimmer ever—male or female—to win the award. He also was the first male swimmer from Europe to be so honored since 2000 when The Netherlands’ Pieter van den Hoogenband topped the voting following the Sydney Olympics.

Early in the year, Peaty, 20, sent shockwaves through the entire swimming community when he broke the 58-second barrier in the men’s 100 meter breaststroke with a 57.92 at the British Champion- ships in London. The closest anyone came to that time this year was when South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh clocked 58.49 in semi- finals at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Peaty went on to win the 50 and 100 breaststrokes at Worlds (26.51, 58.52)—as part of a three-gold performance that included an upset win by Great Britain in the mixed 400 meter medley relay.

A day after Peaty beat van der Burgh by 7-hundredths of a second in the 100, both swimmers bettered the world record in the 50 breast: first by van der Burgh in prelims (26.62), then by Peaty in semis (26.42). The next day, Peaty erased any lingering doubts about who was King of the Pool with a convincing 26.51-26.66 triumph over his Commonwealth rival.

Peaty also became the first repeat winner of the Male European Swimmer of the Year award since Laszlo Cseh of Hungary (2005- 06). The only British swimmers to take European honors are Peaty (2014-15) and Adrian Moorhouse (1990).

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Female World Swimmer of the Year Sponsored by Competitor

KatieLedecky was selected as Swimming World’s Female World Swimmer of the Year a third consecutive year, joining DebbieMeyer (1967-69) and ShirleyBabashoff (1974-76) in second place behind JanetEvans’ streak of four straight (1987-90).

Ledecky also won her third straight Female American SOY award, tying her with KatieHoff (2005-07) and TracyCaulklins (1980-82) for the second most consecutive wins. Evans reeled off five straight from 1987-91.

The 18-year-old had just graduated from Stone Ridge High School (Md.) before dazzling the world this summer at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. While winning five gold medals, Ledecky also became the first swimmer to win the 200-400- 800-1500 meter freestyle events at a major international meet.

She set world records twice in the 1500 meter freestyle (15:27.71p, 15:25.48) before adding a third WR four days later in the 800 (8:07.39). She now has 10 world records in her career since first clocking a 15:36.53 as a 16-year-old at the 2013 World Champs.

However, her most stunning victory in Kazan came in the 200, an event in which she was not favored. After turning in the fastest time during the morning prelims, she was faced with a difficult double that night: the finals of the 1500 followed by the 200 semis—just 29 minutes later!

Still hurting from her WR effort in the 1500, she qualified sixth in the 200 semis and had to be consoled by teammate MissyFranklin, who helped her out of the pool.

The next day—after plenty of rest—Ledecky clocked 1:55.16 to beat a stellar field that included Franklin and world record holder Federica Pellegrini of Italy.

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Emanuele Calderone
8 years ago

Way better than seeing once again Michael as the best swimmer of the year. Adam, Gregorio, Sun they all did better than him.

Swimming World
8 years ago

It was definitely a close vote!

Tyler
Tyler
8 years ago

Not true what so ever but alright

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