List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year

The Swimming World Magazine Swimmers of the Year, awarded by the American-based Swimming World Magazine, are a set of awards which are often regarded as being the most prestigious[1] in the sport of swimming. There are seven categories: World Swimmer, American Swimmer, European Swimmer, Pacific Rim Swimmer, World Disabled Swimmer, African Swimmer, and Open Water Swimmer of year. An award for male and female is made for each category.[2]

The award was inaugurated in 1964, when Swimming World named Don Schollander as its World Swimmer of the Year. Two years later, a female category was added, and the awards continued in this format until 1980. The winners were mostly American until the rise of East Germany's women in the 1970s, and 1980 saw the creation of subcategories for American and European swimmers. Following the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of the East's systematic state-sponsored doping program, while Australia's swimming team enjoyed a revival. In 1994, Australian swimmers won both awards for World Swimmer of the Year for the first time, and in 1995, a subcategory was inaugurated for Pacific Rim swimmers. A subcategory for disabled swimmers was introduced in 2003, and in the following year, an African award was launched after South Africa became the first country from the continent to win an Olympic relay. In 2005, open water swimming was added to the Olympic program and another category was duly added.

American swimmers have been the most successful in winning awards, with 45 titles, more than three times that of Australia (13). Michael Phelps of the United States has won the global award six times, followed by Ian Thorpe of Australia with four. Regionally, German, Hungarian and Dutch swimmers have had the most success in Europe, while Australians have won more than three quarters of the Pacific awards.

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World Swimmers of the Year

The award was inaugurated in 1964, when Swimming World named Don Schollander as its World Swimmer of the Year. Two years later, a female category was added. The winners were always American until 1970, and the it was not until 1979 that a non-American male won the award. However, from 1973 until 1989, the rise of East Germany's women saw them win a majority of the awards.[2] Following the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of the East's systematic state-sponsored doping program,[3][4] while Australia's swimming team enjoyed a revival in the late 1990s, winning nine awards since 1997, the most by any country in that period.[2]

United States swimmers have won the title 43 times, followed by Australia (13 times) and East Germany (11 times).[2] This ratio is approximately proportional to the amount of gold medals won by the respective nations at the Olympics. East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when they dominated the women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping.[3][4]

With his win in 2009, Michael Phelps (USA) now holds the overall record with six titles. He won in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He is also only person to win the award four straight times. Debbie Meyers of the US, won from 1967–69.[2] Ian Thorpe (AUS) is the second most prolific winner in the category as he was honored four times, in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.[2]

Four female swimmers have won three awards: Debbie Meyer (USA) in 1967, 1968 and 1969, Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN) in 1991, 1992 and 1995, Janet Evans (USA) in 1987, 1989 and 1990, and Kristin Otto (GDR) in 1984, 1986 and 1988.[2] Franziska van Almsick is the youngest female to have won the award, having turned 15 on April 5 in the year of her first award. Thorpe is the youngest male recipient, having turned 16 on October 13 in the year of his first award.[5]

Year Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
1964 Not awarded N/A Schollander, DonDon Schollander  United States
1965 Not awarded N/A Roth, DickDick Roth  United States
1966 Kolb, ClaudiaClaudia Kolb  United States Burton, MikeMike Burton  United States
1967 Meyer, DebbieDebbie Meyer  United States Spitz, MarkMark Spitz  United States
1968 Meyer, DebbieDebbie Meyer  United States Hickcox, CharlesCharles Hickcox  United States
1969 Meyer, DebbieDebbie Meyer  United States Hall, Sr., GaryGary Hall, Sr.  United States
1970 Jones, AliceAlice Jones  United States Hall, Sr., GaryGary Hall, Sr.  United States
1971 Gould, ShaneShane Gould  Australia Spitz, MarkMark Spitz  United States
1972 Gould, ShaneShane Gould  Australia Spitz, MarkMark Spitz  United States
1973 Ender, KorneliaKornelia Ender  East Germany DeMont, RickRick DeMont  United States
1974 Tauber, UlrikeUlrike Tauber  East Germany Shaw, TimTim Shaw  United States
1975 Ender, KorneliaKornelia Ender  East Germany Shaw, TimTim Shaw  United States
1976 Ender, KorneliaKornelia Ender  East Germany Naber, JohnJohn Naber  United States
1977 Tauber, UlrikeUlrike Tauber  East Germany Goodell, BrianBrian Goodell  United States
1978 Caulkins, TracyTracy Caulkins  United States Vassallo, JesseJesse Vassallo  United States
1979 Woodhead, CynthiaCynthia Woodhead  United States Salnikov, VladimirVladimir Salnikov  Soviet Union
1980 Schneider, PetraPetra Schneider  East Germany Gaines, RowdyRowdy Gaines  United States
1981 Meagher, Mary T.Mary T. Meagher  United States Baumann, AlexAlex Baumann  Canada
1982 Schneider, PetraPetra Schneider  East Germany Salnikov, VladimirVladimir Salnikov  Soviet Union
1983 Geweniger, UteUte Geweniger  East Germany Carey, RickRick Carey  United States
1984 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Baumann, AlexAlex Baumann  Canada
1985 Meagher, Mary T.Mary T. Meagher  United States Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1986 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Biondi, MattMatt Biondi  United States
1987 Evans, JanetJanet Evans  United States Darnyi, TamásTamás Darnyi  Hungary
1988 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Biondi, MattMatt Biondi  United States
1989 Evans, JanetJanet Evans  United States Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman  United States
1990 Evans, JanetJanet Evans  United States Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman  United States
1991 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Darnyi, TamásTamás Darnyi  Hungary
1992 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Sadovyi, YevgenyYevgeny Sadovyi  Russia
1993 van Almsick, FranziskaFranziska van Almsick  Germany Güttler, KárolyKároly Güttler  Hungary
1994 Riley, SamanthaSamantha Riley  Australia Perkins, KierenKieren Perkins  Australia
1995 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Pankratov, DenisDenis Pankratov  Russia
1996 Heyns, PennyPenny Heyns  South Africa Pankratov, DenisDenis Pankratov  Russia
1997 Poll, ClaudiaClaudia Poll  Costa Rica Klim, MichaelMichael Klim  Australia
1998 Thompson, JennyJenny Thompson  United States Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
1999 Heyns, PennyPenny Heyns  South Africa Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2000 de Bruijn, IngeInge de Bruijn  Netherlands van den Hoogenband, PieterPieter van den Hoogenband  Netherlands
2001 de Bruijn, IngeInge de Bruijn  Netherlands Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2002 Coughlin, NatalieNatalie Coughlin  United States Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2003 Stockbauer, HannahHannah Stockbauer  Germany Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2004 Klochkova, YanaYana Klochkova  Ukraine Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2005 Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones  Australia Hackett, GrantGrant Hackett  Australia
2006 Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones  Australia Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2007 Manaudou, LaureLaure Manaudou  France Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2008 Rice, StephanieStephanie Rice  Australia Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2009 Pellegrini, FedericaFederica Pellegrini  Italy Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps  United States
2010 Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni  United States Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte  United States
2011 Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni  United States Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte  United States

American Swimmers of the Year

See also: Golden Goggle Awards (U.S.)

Michael Phelps has been named American Swimmer of the Year on eight occasions; his streak of 2001 to 2008 was interrupted only by Aaron Peirsol in 2005. Janet Evans is the most decorated female swimmer, with five awards, all of them consecutively, from 1987 to 1991. Tracy Caulkins won four times in the early-1980s, while Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff and Jenny Thompson all won thrice. On the men’s side, Mike Barrowman and Lenny Krayzelburg won the award four consecutive times, while Matt Biondi captured three awards.[2]

Year[2] Female Winner Male Winner
1980 Caulkins, TracyTracy Caulkins Bruner, MikeMike Bruner
1981 Caulkins, TracyTracy Caulkins Beardsley, CraigCraig Beardsley
1982 Caulkins, TracyTracy Caulkins Lundquist, SteveSteve Lundquist
1983 Cohen, TiffanyTiffany Cohen Carey, RickRick Carey
1984 Caulkins, TracyTracy Caulkins Morales, PabloPablo Morales
1985 Meagher, Mary T.Mary T. Meagher Biondi, MattMatt Biondi
1986 Mitchell, BetsyBetsy Mitchell Biondi, MattMatt Biondi
1987 Evans, JanetJanet Evans Wharton, DavidDavid Wharton
1988 Evans, JanetJanet Evans Biondi, MattMatt Biondi
1989 Evans, JanetJanet Evans Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman
1990 Evans, JanetJanet Evans Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman
1991 Evans, JanetJanet Evans Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman
1992 Sanders, SummerSummer Sanders Barrowman, MikeMike Barrowman
1993 Thompson, JennyJenny Thompson Namesnik, EricEric Namesnik
1994 Wagner, AllisonAllison Wagner Dolan, TomTom Dolan
1995 Van Dyken, AmyAmy Van Dyken Dolan, TomTom Dolan
1996 Van Dyken, AmyAmy Van Dyken 4×100 m medley relay team[nb 1]
1997 Quance, KristineKristine Quance Krayzelburg, LennyLenny Krayzelburg
1998 Thompson, JennyJenny Thompson Krayzelburg, LennyLenny Krayzelburg
1999 Thompson, JennyJenny Thompson Krayzelburg, LennyLenny Krayzelburg
2000 Bennett, BrookeBrooke Bennett Krayzelburg, LennyLenny Krayzelburg
Tom Dolan
2001 Coughlin, NatalieNatalie Coughlin Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2002 Coughlin, NatalieNatalie Coughlin Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2003 Beard, AmandaAmanda Beard Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2004 Beard, AmandaAmanda Beard Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2005 Hoff, KatieKatie Hoff Peirsol, AaronAaron Peirsol
2006 Hoff, KatieKatie Hoff Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2007 Hoff, KatieKatie Hoff Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2008 Coughlin, NatalieNatalie Coughlin Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2009 Kukors, ArianaAriana Kukors
Rebecca Soni		 Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps
2010 Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte
2011 Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte

European Swimmers of the Year

East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when they dominated the women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping.[3][4] Their women swept the award for the first ten years of its existence from 1980 to 1989, with Kristin Otto winning three times, before the Berlin Wall and communism fell. With the end of the state-sponsored doping program, the (East) German stranglehold on women's swimming was broken.[2][3][4] In the two decades since reunification, the female award was won by Germans four times, three by Franziska van Almsick.[2] During the 1980s, Michael Groß of West Germany, nicknamed The Albatross in reference to his vast wingspan, dominated European swimming, winning five consecutive awards from 1982 to 1986.[2]

Hungary has won the award 13 times, mainly on the back of its strength in medley swimming. Breaststrokers Ágnes Kovács and Károly Güttler, and backstroker Sándor Wladár were the only Hungarian winners who were not champion medley swimmers. Krisztina Egerszegi won four awards, the most by a female swimmer, while Tamás Darnyi claimed three.[2] The Netherlands have won seven awards, through the efforts of Inge de Bruijn (3) and Pieter van den Hoogenband (4), who led the sprinting world for women and men at the turn of the century. Russian or Soviet swimmers have won seven awards, all of them male.[2]

Year[2] Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
1980 Schneider, PetraPetra Schneider  East Germany Salnikov, VladimirVladimir Salnikov  Soviet Union
1981 Geweniger, UteUte Geweniger  East Germany Wladár, SándorSándor Wladár  Hungary
1982 Sirch, CorneliaCornelia Sirch  East Germany Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1983 Geweniger, UteUte Geweniger  East Germany Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1984 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1985 Hörner, SilkeSilke Hörner  East Germany Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1986 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Groß, MichaelMichael Groß  West Germany
1987 Hörner, SilkeSilke Hörner  East Germany Darnyi, TamásTamás Darnyi  Hungary
1988 Otto, KristinKristin Otto  East Germany Darnyi, TamásTamás Darnyi  Hungary
1989 Möhring, AnkeAnke Möhring  East Germany Lamberti, GiorgioGiorgio Lamberti  Italy
1990 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Moorhouse, AdrianAdrian Moorhouse  Great Britain
1991 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Darnyi, TamásTamás Darnyi  Hungary
1992 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Sadovyi, YevgenyYevgeny Sadovyi  Russia
1993 van Almsick, FranziskaFranziska van Almsick  Germany Güttler, KárolyKároly Güttler  Hungary
1994 van Almsick, FranziskaFranziska van Almsick  Germany Popov, AlexanderAlexander Popov  Russia
1995 Egerszegi, KrisztinaKrisztina Egerszegi  Hungary Pankratov, DenisDenis Pankratov  Russia
1996 Smith, MichelleMichelle Smith  Ireland Pankratov, DenisDenis Pankratov  Russia
1997 Kovács, ÁgnesÁgnes Kovács  Hungary Brembilla, EmilianoEmiliano Brembilla  Italy
1998 Kovács, ÁgnesÁgnes Kovács  Hungary Sylantyev, DenysDenys Sylantyev  Ukraine
1999 de Bruijn, IngeInge de Bruijn  Netherlands van den Hoogenband, PieterPieter van den Hoogenband  Netherlands
2000 de Bruijn, IngeInge de Bruijn  Netherlands van den Hoogenband, PieterPieter van den Hoogenband  Netherlands
2001 de Bruijn, IngeInge de Bruijn  Netherlands Sloudnov, RomanRoman Sloudnov  Russia
2002 van Almsick, FranziskaFranziska van Almsick  Germany van den Hoogenband, PieterPieter van den Hoogenband  Netherlands
2003 Stockbauer, HannahHannah Stockbauer  Germany Popov, AlexanderAlexander Popov  Russia
2004 Klochkova, YanaYana Klochkova  Ukraine van den Hoogenband, PieterPieter van den Hoogenband  Netherlands
2005 Jędrzejczak, OtyliaOtylia Jędrzejczak  Poland Cseh, LászlóLászló Cseh  Hungary
2006 Manaudou, LaureLaure Manaudou  France Cseh, LászlóLászló Cseh  Hungary
2007 Manaudou, LaureLaure Manaudou  France Sawrymowicz, MateuszMateusz Sawrymowicz  Poland
2008 Adlington, RebeccaRebecca Adlington  Great Britain Bernard, AlainAlain Bernard  France
2009 Pellegrini, FedericaFederica Pellegrini  Italy Biedermann, PaulPaul Biedermann  Germany
2010 Pellegrini, FedericaFederica Pellegrini  Italy Lacourt, CamilleCamille Lacourt  France
2011 Pellegrini, FedericaFederica Pellegrini  Italy Dale Oen, AlexanderAlexander Dale Oen  Norway

Pacific Rim Swimmers of the Year

The Pacific Rim award was introduced in 1995, the year after two Australian swimmers—Kieren Perkins and Samantha Riley—became the first two Pacific Rim swimmers to be named as World Swimmer of the Year. It has subsequently been dominated by Australian swimmers, who have won 24 of the 32 awards given. Ian Thorpe won six awards (five consecutively) and Susie O'Neill has won four (three consecutively). Australia’s success has been built on female butterfliers (O’Neill and Petria Thomas), female breaststrokers (Riley and Leisel Jones), and male freestylers (Thorpe, Grant Hackett and Michael Klim). Kosuke Kitajima (Japan) is the only non-Australian swimmer to have won the award more than once (in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010).[1][2]

Year Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
1995 O'Neill, SusieSusie O'Neill  Australia Miller, ScottScott Miller  Australia
1996 Le, JingyiJingyi Le  China Loader, DanyonDanyon Loader  New Zealand
1997 Riley, SamanthaSamantha Riley  Australia Klim, MichaelMichael Klim  Australia
1998 O'Neill, SusieSusie O'Neill  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
1999 O'Neill, SusieSusie O'Neill  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2000 O'Neill, SusieSusie O'Neill  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2001 Thomas, PetriaPetria Thomas  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2002 Thomas, PetriaPetria Thomas  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2003 Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones  Australia Kitajima, KosukeKosuke Kitajima  Japan
2004 Henry, JodieJodie Henry  Australia Thorpe, IanIan Thorpe  Australia
2005 Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones  Australia Hackett, GrantGrant Hackett  Australia
2006 Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones  Australia Park, Tae HwanTae Hwan Park  South Korea
2007 Lenton, LibbyLibby Lenton  Australia Kitajima, KosukeKosuke Kitajima  Japan
2008 Rice, StephanieStephanie Rice  Australia Kitajima, KosukeKosuke Kitajima  Japan
2009 Schipper, JessicahJessicah Schipper  Australia Lin, ZhangZhang Lin  China
2010 Coutts, AliciaAlicia Coutts  Australia Kitajima, KosukeKosuke Kitajima  Japan
2011 Shiwen, YeYe Shiwen  China Yang, SunSun Yang  China

African Swimmers of the Year

The African award was introduced in 2004,[2] the year in which South Africa won the men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay at the Olympics. Although Joan Harrison (1952) and Penny Heyns (1996) had won individual gold medals for South Africa, the 2004 victory was the first time that an African relay team won a medal, indicating their increasing depth. In the same Olympics, Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry's won three medals, including one gold, making her the first African swimmer outside of South Africa to stand on the podium.[2][6] Coventry has won the female award five times. South African sprinter Roland Schoeman won four consecutive male awards from 2004 to 2007,[2] and in total South African swimmers have claimed eight awards. In 2008, Ous Mellouli of Tunisia broke the South African and Zimbabwean duopoly after becoming the first African male to win an individual Olympic gold medal.[2][6]

Year Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
2004 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe Schoeman, RolandRoland Schoeman  South Africa
2005 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe Schoeman, RolandRoland Schoeman  South Africa
2006 van Biljon, SuzaanSuzaan van Biljon  South Africa Schoeman, RolandRoland Schoeman  South Africa
2007 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe Schoeman, RolandRoland Schoeman  South Africa
2008 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe Mellouli, OussamaOussama Mellouli  Tunisia
2009 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe Mellouli, OussamaOussama Mellouli
van der Burgh, CameronCameron van der Burgh		  Tunisia
 South Africa
2010 Loots, MandyMandy Loots  South Africa van der Burgh, CameronCameron van der Burgh  South Africa
2011 Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe van der Burgh, CameronCameron van der Burgh  South Africa

Open Water Swimmers of the Year

See also: FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships and FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup

The Open Water award was introduced in 2005,[2] when it was announced that an open water swimming event would be included in the Olympics for the first time: the 10 km events at the 2008 Olympics.[7] The award has been won by Russian and German swimmers four times, while Dutch swimmers have won three times. Thomas Lurz of Germany has won the award four times, triumphing in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2011, while Russia’s Larisa Ilchenko has won the award three years in a row (2006–2008).[2][8]

Year Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
2005 van Dijk, EdithEdith van Dijk  Netherlands Lurz, ThomasThomas Lurz
Peterson, ChipChip Peterson		  Germany
 United States
2006 Ilchenko, LarisaLarisa Ilchenko  Russia Lurz, ThomasThomas Lurz  Germany
2007 Ilchenko, LarisaLarisa Ilchenko  Russia Dyatchin, VladimirVladimir Dyatchin  Russia
2008 Ilchenko, LarisaLarisa Ilchenko  Russia van der Weijden, MaartenMaarten van der Weijden  Netherlands
2009 Payne, Keri-AnneKeri-Anne Payne  United Kingdom Lurz, ThomasThomas Lurz  Germany
2010 Grimaldi, MartinaMartina Grimaldi  Italy Cleri, ValerioValerio Cleri  Italy
2011 Payne, Keri-AnneKeri-Anne Payne  United Kingdom Lurz, ThomasThomas Lurz
Gianniotis, SpyridonSpyridon Gianniotis		  Germany
 Greece

World Disabled Swimmers of the Year

See also: Paralympic swimming and Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award

This award was created in 2003, and then was not awarded in 2004.[2] American swimmers have won the award five times. Brazilian swimmers have the award three times, and Canadian and Australian swimmers have won the award twice.

Year Female Winner Nationality Male Winner Nationality
2003 Watts, DanielleDanielle Watts  United Kingdom Punko, SergeiSergei Punko  Belarus
2004 Not awarded N/A Not awarded N/A
2005 Popovich, ErinErin Popovich  United States Huot, BenoîtBenoît Huot  Canada
2006 Long, JessicaJessica Long  United States Xiaofu, WangWang Xiaofu  China
2007 Grand'Maison, ValérieValérie Grand'Maison  Canada Cowdrey, MatthewMatthew Cowdrey  Australia
2008 du Toit, NatalieNatalie du Toit  South Africa Cowdrey, MatthewMatthew Cowdrey  Australia
2009 Weggemann, MalloryMallory Weggemann  United States Dias, DanielDaniel Dias  Brazil
2010 Weggemann, MalloryMallory Weggemann  United States Dias, DanielDaniel Dias  Brazil
2011 Long, JessicaJessica Long  United States Dias, DanielDaniel Dias  Brazil

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In 1996 the American Swimmer of the Year award was given to the 4×100 m medley relay team of Jeff Rouse, Jeremy Linn, Mark Henderson, and Gary Hall, Jr. who won gold and broke the world record at the Olympics that year.

References

  1. ^ a b Jeffery, Nicole (27 November 2008). "Rice on top of world again". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24712268-2722,00.html. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Swimmers of the Year". Swimming World Magazine. http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/SwimmersOfTheYear.asp. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
  3. ^ a b c d "Swimming's big splash". BBC Sports. 5 July 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/history/3477381.stm. Retrieved 8 November 2006. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Phelps causes biggest splash". BBC Sports. 21 August 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/3587554.stm. Retrieved 19 November 2006. 
  5. ^ Hunter, Greg (2004). Ian Thorpe: The Biography. Sydney: MacMillan. pp. 130–133. ISBN 1-4050-3632-X. 
  6. ^ a b "Olympic medal winners". International Olympic Committee. http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/results/search_r_uk.asp. Retrieved 26 March 2009. 
    Results classification: "By individual" → Competition gender: Select all → Medal: Select all → Continents and nations: "Africa" → Sports and events: "Swimming" → Search ↵
  7. ^ VOA Sports (28 October 2005). "IOC Includes 10K Open Water Event in 2008 Beijing Olympics". Voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-10/2005-10-28-voa55.cfm. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  8. ^ "Lane 9 News Archive: Swimming World Names 2009 Open Water Swimmers of the Year". Swimmingworldmagazine.com. http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/22800.asp. Retrieved 2011-10-26.