Picking Winners: The Golden Goggle Edition
Picking Winners: The Golden Goggle Edition
It's tough to choose the awards winners after such an amazing year for swimming in the United States. Here are Davis Tarwater's picks.
By Davis Tarwater
At the risk of no one ever talking to me again, I will opine on my votes for the various honors given at USA Swimming's annual Golden Goggle Awards. It was a truly historic summer. But instead of bothering with the whole, "all these candidates are deserving of an award" platitudes, I think maybe I will just start picking. Not everyone gets a trophy, guys.
Lilly King. After taking the world by storm, sweeping the breaststroke events at the Olympic Trials, King cemented herself as a potential fixture in American swimming for many years to come. And while Cody Miller provided the inspirational swim that even President Barack Obama acknowledged (props bro), I would argue that Leah Smith's 4:00.60 in the 400 freestyle from Omaha, Nebraska, was one of the most under-the-radar swims of the entire summer, and in my estimation, perhaps one the finer swims of the year.
Kathleen Baker. The human spirit is truly incredible. For anyone to hold a candle to the grit and fortitude of David Plummer is astonishing. He is to be lauded for his creativity and belief serving as an inspiration to us all. However, Baker's battle with Crohn's disease is both difficult and serious. It also gives us all hope and faith in the fact that dreams come true, and that we can overcome almost anything.
Bob Bowman. His stable of athletes knocked it out of the park. However, in supplying nearly a third of the men's team, Dave Durden makes this a close call. There are a lot of future stars at Cal. Honorable mention: Ray Looze is not so quietly looking like the best breaststroke coach in the world.
Men's 4x100 freestyle relay. Remember when there was no way we could beat the Aussies on paper? Ha. Remember when Ryan Held got a little emotional? Ha. Remember, when Phelps totally blew the race wide open? Ha.
Simone Manuel. Otherwise known as the category in which all nominees produced efforts that made me cry man tears. I'm such a sap. Katie Ledecky is just incredible. She would have beaten nearly half the field in the men's 400 free in Omaha. However, Manuel's win was historic, not only for the obvious cultural implications but also for the magnitude of the upset.
Anthony Ervin. Oldest male to win individual swimming gold. Awesome celebration, too.
Katie Ledecky. Every time she swims, I think I am going to fall out of my chair. However, the "Volume and Versatility Award" (given by... well I guess, me) goes to Maya DiRado. It was like she just kept coming on TV. Oh cool, next event. It is Maya again.
Michael Phelps. My Mount Rushmore of American Sports: Ali, Jordan, Owens, Phelps. This isn't just the best swimmer of all time. This may be the best athlete in history. Pundits debate this kind of thing all the time, but the problem is "pundits" don't understand the sport of swimming as well as they do other sports. So I repeat. Greatest ever. Period.
At the risk of no one ever talking to me again, I will opine on my votes for the various honors given at USA Swimming's annual Golden Goggle Awards. It was a truly historic summer. But instead of bothering with the whole, "all these candidates are deserving of an award" platitudes, I think maybe I will just start picking. Not everyone gets a trophy, guys.
Breakout Performer of the Year
Lilly King. After taking the world by storm, sweeping the breaststroke events at the Olympic Trials, King cemented herself as a potential fixture in American swimming for many years to come. And while Cody Miller provided the inspirational swim that even President Barack Obama acknowledged (props bro), I would argue that Leah Smith's 4:00.60 in the 400 freestyle from Omaha, Nebraska, was one of the most under-the-radar swims of the entire summer, and in my estimation, perhaps one the finer swims of the year.
Perseverance Award
Kathleen Baker. The human spirit is truly incredible. For anyone to hold a candle to the grit and fortitude of David Plummer is astonishing. He is to be lauded for his creativity and belief serving as an inspiration to us all. However, Baker's battle with Crohn's disease is both difficult and serious. It also gives us all hope and faith in the fact that dreams come true, and that we can overcome almost anything.
Coach of the Year
Bob Bowman. His stable of athletes knocked it out of the park. However, in supplying nearly a third of the men's team, Dave Durden makes this a close call. There are a lot of future stars at Cal. Honorable mention: Ray Looze is not so quietly looking like the best breaststroke coach in the world.
Relay Performance of the Year
Men's 4x100 freestyle relay. Remember when there was no way we could beat the Aussies on paper? Ha. Remember when Ryan Held got a little emotional? Ha. Remember, when Phelps totally blew the race wide open? Ha.
Female Race of the Year
Simone Manuel. Otherwise known as the category in which all nominees produced efforts that made me cry man tears. I'm such a sap. Katie Ledecky is just incredible. She would have beaten nearly half the field in the men's 400 free in Omaha. However, Manuel's win was historic, not only for the obvious cultural implications but also for the magnitude of the upset.
Male Race of the Year
Anthony Ervin. Oldest male to win individual swimming gold. Awesome celebration, too.
Female Athlete of the Year
Katie Ledecky. Every time she swims, I think I am going to fall out of my chair. However, the "Volume and Versatility Award" (given by... well I guess, me) goes to Maya DiRado. It was like she just kept coming on TV. Oh cool, next event. It is Maya again.
Male Athlete of the Year
Michael Phelps. My Mount Rushmore of American Sports: Ali, Jordan, Owens, Phelps. This isn't just the best swimmer of all time. This may be the best athlete in history. Pundits debate this kind of thing all the time, but the problem is "pundits" don't understand the sport of swimming as well as they do other sports. So I repeat. Greatest ever. Period.