CSCCAA Honors IOC President Kirsty Coventry with McCaffree Award
Kirsty Coventry, former NCAA champion for the Auburn Tigers, back-to-back Olympic champion, and current President of the International Olympic Committee, has been named the Charles McCaffree Award winner by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America on Tuesday.
Selected by the CSCAA Board of Directors, the Charles McCaffree Award recognizes a collegiate swimming or diving graduate who has achieved outstanding success beyond the pool, exemplifying leadership, service, and lasting impact on sport and society. Coventry will be recognized at the 63rd Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards Celebration May 4 in Chicago, Illinois.
Coventry’s athletic legacy is unparalleled. Collegiately, she competed for Auburn University, where she trained under co-head coaches David Marsh and Kim Brackin and emerged as one of the most accomplished swimmers in NCAA history. She led Auburn to three consecutive NCAA team championships (2002–2004) and earned seven individual NCAA titles, 25 All-America honors, and SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2004–05) recognition. Coventry also set multiple program records, including the 200-yard backstroke (1:50.54), and was honored as the nation’s top female collegiate swimmer with the 2005 Honda Sports Award.
“Since 2001, it has been evident that Kirsty seeks excellence and surrounds herself with hardworking, ambitious, and disciplined teammates,” said Brackin, Coventry’s coach at Auburn University and later as a postgraduate while Brackin served as head coach at the University of Texas. “She has always embraced audacious goals—from believing we could win the 2002 NCAA team title after finishing third at the SEC Championships to ultimately winning Olympic gold.”
On the world stage, Coventry is one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers in history. She competed in five Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016), capturing seven Olympic medals, including two gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke, and setting multiple world records. Her success established her as one of Africa’s most accomplished Olympic athletes.
“Kirsty carefully navigates her environment to ensure she is supported by like-minded teammates, family, and friends,” Brackin added. “Within that setting, she demonstrates a relentless drive and forward-thinking nature, leading both democratically and decisively. These qualities were nurtured during her time at Auburn, and I am confident her collegiate swimming experience helped shape her leadership trajectory.”
Since retiring from competitive swimming, Coventry’s influence has expanded well beyond competition. A dedicated global sports leader, she has served in numerous international roles, including as a member of the International Olympic Committee and Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. In March 2025, Coventry made history when she was elected the first woman and first African President of the IOC, officially assuming the role in June 2025.
“Unlike many athletes who prioritize rest during Opening Ceremonies, Kirsty always insisted on attending,” Brackin said. “The ceremony embodied her Olympic spirit, and she has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to the values of the Olympic Movement.”
In addition to her IOC leadership, Coventry has contributed to global sport through service on organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency and involvement with the International Surfing Federation, advancing integrity, inclusion, and opportunity across sport. Her personal initiatives, including the Kirsty Coventry Academy and community outreach programs such as HEROES: Empowering Children Through Sport, reflect a deep and sustained commitment to youth development, education, and social impact.
“I have complete confidence that she will lead with passion and a strong moral compass,” Brackin concluded. “I know she will be extremely proud to be recognized by one of the communities that helped shape her into a global sports leader.”
“Kirsty Coventry’s career is defined not only by her extraordinary achievements in the pool, but by her enduring commitment to expanding the reach and impact of sport,” said CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany. “Her journey exemplifies how the discipline, leadership, and resilience developed through collegiate swimming translate far beyond competition. As the recipient of the Charles McCaffree Award, Kirsty represents the very best of our sport—a champion who broke barriers in the water and continues to break glass ceilings through her leadership and service beyond the pool.”
McCaffree Award Winners
- 2025 – Dr. David Scott, Army West Point 1954
- 2024 – Ambassador Andrew Young, Howard University 1951
- 2023 – Dr. Tara Kirk Sell, Stanford University 2004
- 2022 – Victoria Gmelich, Dartmouth University 1991
- 2020 – Roger Von Jouanne, Southern Illinois 1982 & Walter Rogers, III, Southern Illinois 1962
- 2019 – Dr. Brian Casey, University of Notre Dame 1985
- 2018 – Carter Cast, Stanford 1985
- 2017 – Morgan Burke, Purdue University 1973
- 2016 – Brad Snyder, U.S. Naval Academy 2006
- 2015 – Dr. James DeBord, University of Illinois 1969
- 2014 – John Davis, University of North Carolina 1991
- 2013 – Major Ray O’Donnell, University of Hawaii 2001 & Dr. Steven Scott, Springfield College 1972
- 2012 – Frank Comfort, Syracuse University 1967
- 2011 – Adolph Kiefer, University of Texas 1939
- 2008 – R. Todd Ruppert, Kenyon College 1978
- 2006 – Chuck Wielgus, Providence College 1972
- 2005 – Rowdy Gaines, Auburn University 1981
- 1998 – Pat Wall
- 1997 – Jody Durst, University of California, Berkley 1968
- 1996 – Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., NC State State University 1974
- 1995 – Dr. Steve Rerych, Columbia University 1969
- 1994 – Jim Veres
- 1993 – Dr. John Crecine, University of Michigan 1962
- 1992 – Robert Helmick, Drake University 1957
- 1991 – Frank McKinney, Indiana University 1961
- 1990 – ‘Tiger’ Holmes, University of Florida 1948
- 1989 – Charles Keating, University of Cincinnati 1966
- 1988 – William Simon, Lafayette College 1952
- 1987 – Dave McCampbell, U.S. Naval Academy 1933
- 1986 – Paul (Buddy) Bacha, Army West Point 1965
- 1985 – Hal Henning, North Central College 1941
- 1984 – Alvin Benedict, Rutgers University 1948
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with CSCAA. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.