# James E. Sullivan Award

The AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), is awarded annually to "the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States".
The award was established in 1930 in honor of the organization's founder and past president, James Edward Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship, 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 portion of the winner's vote has been determined by the general public. Recipients are eligible for subsequent awards, and in 2023, Caitlin Clark became the first repeat winner. In 1999, 2015, 2019, and 2020, the award was shared between two co-recipients.
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. 34 track and field athletes have won the AAU Sullivan Award—the most by any sport.
* Golfer Bobby Jones won the inaugural award in 1930.
* Wilma Rudolph received the accolade in 1961.
* Track athlete Carl Lewis received the award in 1981.
* Peyton Manning won the award in 1997.
* Figure skater, Michelle Kwan, took the honor in 2001.
* Swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps won the award in 2003.
* Olympic gold-medalist, Shawn Johnson, won the award in 2008.
* Quarterback Keenan Reynolds was awarded the 86th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
* Caitlin Clark won the award in 2022 and 2023, the first ever 2x winner.

## Winners

| Award Year | Winner | Sport(s) |
| 1930 | Bobby Jones | Golf |
| 1931 | Bernard Berlinger | Decathlon |
| 1932 | James Bausch | Decathlon |
| 1933 | Glenn Cunningham | Running (middle distance) |
| 1934 | William Bonthron | Running (middle distance) |
| 1935 | W. Lawson Little, Jr. | Golf |
| 1936 | Glenn Morris | Decathlon |
| 1937 | Don Budge | Tennis |
| 1938 | Don Lash | Running (long distance) |
| 1939 | Joe Burk | Rowing |
| 1940 | J. Gregory Rice | Running (long distance) |
| 1941 | T. Leslie MacMitchell | Running (middle distance/cross country) |
| 1942 | Cornelius Warmerdam | Pole vault |
| 1943 | Gil Dodds | Running (middle distance) |
| 1944 | Ann Curtis | Swimming |
| 1945 | Doc Blanchard | Football |
| 1946 | Arnold Tucker | Football |
| 1947 | John B. Kelly, Jr. | Rowing |
| 1948 | Bob Mathias | Decathlon |
| 1949 | Dick Button | Figure skating |
| 1950 | Fred Wilt | Running (long distance) |
| 1951 | Bob Richards | Pole vault & decathlon |
| 1952 | Horace Ashenfelter | Running (long distance) |
| 1953 | Sammy Lee | Diving |
| 1954 | Mal Whitfield | Running (middle distance) |
| 1955 | Harrison Dillard | Running (sprint) |
| 1956 | Pat McCormick | Diving |
| 1957 | Bobby Morrow | Running (sprint) |
| 1958 | Glenn Davis | Running (sprint) |
| 1959 | Parry O'Brien | Shot put & discus |
| 1960 | Rafer Johnson | Decathlon |
| 1961 | Wilma Rudolph | Running (sprint) |
| 1962 | Jim Beatty | Running (middle and long distance) |
| 1963 | John Pennel | Pole vault |
| 1964 | Don Schollander | Swimming |
| 1965 | Bill Bradley | Basketball |
| 1966 | Jim Ryun | Running (middle distance) |
| 1967 | Randy Matson | Shot put & discus |
| 1968 | Debbie Meyer | Swimming |
| 1969 | Bill Toomey | Decathlon |
| 1970 | John Kinsella | Swimming |
| 1971 | Mark Spitz | Swimming |
| 1972 | Frank Shorter | Running (long distance) |
| 1973 | Bill Walton | Basketball |
| 1974 | Rick Wohlhuter | Running (middle distance) |
| 1975 | Tim Shaw | Swimming |
| 1976 | Caitlyn Jenner | Decathlon |
| 1977 | John Naber | Swimming |
| 1978 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming |
| 1979 | Kurt Thomas | Gymnastics |
| 1980 | Eric Heiden | Speed skating |
| 1981 | Carl Lewis | Running (sprint) & long jump |
| 1982 | Mary Decker | Running (middle and long distance) |
| 1983 | Edwin Moses | Running (sprint) |
| 1984 | Greg Louganis | Diving |
| 1985 | Joan Benoit | Running (long distance) |
| 1986 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | Running (sprint) |
| 1987 | Jim Abbott | Baseball |
| 1988 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | Running (sprint) |
| 1989 | Janet Evans | Swimming |
| 1990 | John Smith | Wrestling |
| 1991 | Mike Powell | Long jump |
| 1992 | Bonnie Blair | Speed skating |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Basketball & football |
| 1994 | Dan Jansen | Speed skating |
| 1995 | Bruce Baumgartner | Wrestling |
| 1996 | Michael Johnson | Running (sprint) |
| 1997 | Peyton Manning | Football |
| 1998 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Basketball |
| 1999 | Coco Miller | Basketball |
| 1999 | Kelly Miller | Basketball |
| 2000 | Rulon Gardner | Wrestling |
| 2001 | Michelle Kwan | Figure skating |
| 2002 | Sarah Hughes | Figure skating |
| 2003 | Michael Phelps | Swimming |
| 2004 | Paul Hamm | Gymnastics |
| 2005 | JJ Redick | Basketball |
| 2006 | Jessica Long | Swimming |
| 2007 | Tim Tebow | Football |
| 2008 | Shawn Johnson | Gymnastics |
| 2009 | Amy Palmiero-Winters | Running (ultra marathon) |
| 2010 | Evan Lysacek | Figure skating |
| 2011 | Andrew Rodriguez | Football |
| 2012 | Missy Franklin | Swimming |
| 2013 | John Urschel | Football |
| 2014 | Ezekiel Elliott | Football |
| 2015 | Keenan Reynolds | Football |
| 2015 | Breanna Stewart | Basketball |
| 2016 | Lauren Carlini | Volleyball |
| 2017 | Kyle Snyder | Wrestling |
| 2018 | Kathryn Plummer | Volleyball |
| 2019 | Sabrina Ionescu | Basketball |
| 2019 | Spencer Lee | Wrestling |
| 2020 | Simone Biles | Gymnastics |
| 2020 | Caeleb Dressel | Swimming |
| 2021 | Carissa Moore | Surfing |
| 2022 | Caitlin Clark | Basketball |
| 2023 | Caitlin Clark | Basketball |
| 2024 | | |