James E. Sullivan Award
Encyclopedia
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU), is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur
athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award "goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character". Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee. Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen, and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel. More recently, a proportion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public. Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, although this has yet to happen.
The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones
, winner of 13 majors
between 1923 and 1930. The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis
, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman, while the most recent winner was figure skater Evan Lysacek
. The award has been presented to multiple recipients on only one occasion – in 1999, to twin sisters Coco
and Kelly Miller.
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU), is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award "goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character". Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee. Approximately 10 semi-finalists are chosen, and the eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners and AAU personnel. More recently, a proportion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public. Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, although this has yet to happen.
The inaugural winner of the award was golfer Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
, winner of 13 majors
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
between 1923 and 1930. The first female recipient, in 1944, was swimmer Ann Curtis
Ann Curtis
Ann Curtis is a former competitive swimmer and Olympic Gold Medal winner for the United States. She was coached by Charlie Sava and was a member of the San Francisco Crystal Plunge team. Curtis participated in London’s 1948 Olympic Games winning the gold medal in the 400 m freestyle...
, who won more national AAU championships than any other woman, while the most recent winner was figure skater Evan Lysacek
Evan Lysacek
Evan Frank Lysacek is an American figure skater. He is the 2010 Olympic champion, the 2009 World champion, the 2005 & 2007 Four Continents champion, the 2007 & 2008 U.S. national champion, and the 2009/2010 Grand Prix Final champion....
. The award has been presented to multiple recipients on only one occasion – in 1999, to twin sisters Coco
Coco Miller
-External links:**...
and Kelly Miller.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Sport(s) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Golf | ||
| 1931 | Decathlon | ||
| 1932 | Decathlon | ||
| 1933 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1934 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1935 | Golf | ||
| 1936 | Decathlon | ||
| 1937 | Tennis | ||
| 1938 | Running (long distance) | ||
| 1939 | Rowing | ||
| 1940 | Track and field | ||
| 1941 | Track and field | ||
| 1942 | Pole vault | ||
| 1943 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1944 | Swimming | ||
| 1945 | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
||
| 1946 | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
||
| 1947 | Rowing | ||
| 1948 | Decathlon | ||
| 1949 | Figure skating | ||
| 1950 | Running (long distance) | ||
| 1951 | Pole vault, decathlon | ||
| 1952 | Running (long distance) | ||
| 1953 | Diving | ||
| 1954 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1955 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1956 | Diving | ||
| 1957 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1958 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1959 | Shot put, discus | ||
| 1960 | Decathlon | ||
| 1961 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1962 | Track and field | ||
| 1963 | Pole vault | ||
| 1964 | Swimming | ||
| 1965 | Basketball | ||
| 1966 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1967 | Shot put, discus | ||
| 1968 | Swimming | ||
| 1969 | Decathlon | ||
| 1970 | Swimming | ||
| 1971 | Swimming | ||
| 1972 | Running (long distance) | ||
| 1973 | Basketball | ||
| 1974 | Running (middle distance) | ||
| 1975 | Swimming | ||
| 1976 | Decathlon | ||
| 1977 | Swimming | ||
| 1978 | Swimming | ||
| 1979 | Gymnastics | ||
| 1980 | Speed skating | ||
| 1981 | Running (sprint), long jump | ||
| 1982 | Running (middle and long distance) | ||
| 1983 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1984 | Diving | ||
| 1985 | Running (long distance) | ||
| 1986 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1987 | Baseball | ||
| 1988 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1989 | Swimming | ||
| 1990 | Wrestling | ||
| 1991 | Long jump | ||
| 1992 | Speed skating | ||
| 1993 | Basketball, football | ||
| 1994 | Speed skating | ||
| 1995 | Wrestling | ||
| 1996 | Running (sprint) | ||
| 1997 | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
||
| 1998 | Basketball | ||
| 1999 | & Kelly Miller | Basketball | |
| 2000 | Wrestling | ||
| 2001 | Figure skating | ||
| 2002 | Figure skating | ||
| 2003 | Swimming | ||
| 2004 | Gymnastics | ||
| 2005 | Basketball | ||
| 2006 | Swimming | ||
| 2007 | Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
||
| 2008 | Gymnastics | ||
| 2009 | Running (ultra marathon) | ||
| 2010 | Figure Skating |