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PHOENIX, Arizona, November 29. THE final Regional Swimmer of the Year award in the 2008 announcement series is today. Swimming World honors the 2008 American Swimmers of the Year in the December issue of Swimming World Magazine.
Natalie Coughlin and Michael Phelps of the U.S. pocketed their respective 2008 American Swimmer of the Year awards, as voted on by our expert panel.
FEMALE
1. NATALIE COUGHLIN, USA
2. Rebecca Soni, USA
3. Katie Hoff, USA
4. Dara Torres, USA
5. Margaret Hoelzer, USA
After a five-year absence, Natalie Coughlin ascended back to the top of the American region as this year's Female American Swimmer of the Year. Previously, she won the award in back-to-back years in 2001-02. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Coughlin won the 100 back in an American record of 58.96, and also earned a pair of silver medals as part of the 400 medley and freestyle relays. She also won three bronze medals in the 100 free, 200 IM and 800 freestyle relay.
MALE
1. MICHAEL PHELPS, USA
2. Ryan Lochte, USA
3. Aaron Peirsol, USA
4. Cesar Cielo, Brazil
5. Jason Lezak, USA
The choice of Michael Phelps as the Male American Swimmer of the Year is not too surprising as the man put together the strongest Olympics ever. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps broke Mark Spitz' record with eight gold medals.
Here is a laundry list of Phelps' performance in Beijing:
• Four individual world records: the 200 free (1:42.96), 200 fly (1:52.03), 200 IM (1:54.23) and 400 IM (4:03.84).
• A member of three relay world records: the 400 medley (3:29.34), 400 free (3:08.24) and 800 free (6:58.56).
• An unprecedented eight Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.
This is Phelps' seventh Male American Swimmer of the Year award – easily a record.
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