Former Stanford All-American Maya DiRado earned a Golden Goggles award for Breakout Performer of the Year and Cardinal signee Katie Ledecky won three goggles at USA Swimming’s annual award show Monday night.
Ledecky took home the Female Swimmer of the Year, Race of the Year and Relay Performance of the Year honors at the New York Marriott Marquis.
This year’s event, emceed by TODAY hosts Matt Lauer and Al Roker and featuring a performance by STOMP, celebrated the accomplishments of the U.S. team at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, where the Americans topped the medal table with 43 medals (16 gold, 13 silver, 14 bronze). The evening benefited the USA Swimming Foundation.
“It’s really been a spectacular night,” Ledecky said.
“As much as we’re celebrating this past year and the present, we really to do have to celebrate the past and appreciate the legacy of USA Swimming.”
The 17-year-old Ledecky earned Female Athlete of the Year honors for the second straight year, after posting five world-record swims last summer. She set world records in the 400-meter free and 1,500-meter free on back-to-back nights at 2014 Pan Pacs, and in Australia became the first woman to win four individual gold medals at a single Pan Pacs, as she topped the podium in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter free and added gold in the 4×200-meter free relay. At the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships, Ledecky won titles in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyles.
Ledecky also took home Female Race of the Year accolades for the third straight year, for her world-record swim in the 1,500-meter free at 2014 Pan Pacs, a 15:28.36 performance that bested her previous world record by nearly six seconds.
Ledecky and teammates Missy Franklin, Leah Smith and Shannon Vreeland picked up Relay Performance of the Year honors for winning gold with a meet record in the 4×200-meter free relay at the Pan Pacific Championships. Ledecky overcame the host Australians on the anchor leg to lift Team USA to gold.
DiRado continued her ascent with Team USA this year by claiming her first individual international medals. At the 2014 Pan Pacs, she claimed gold in the 200-meter IM and silver in the 400-meter IM. At the Phillips 66 Nationals, DiRado took second in the 200-meter IM and 400-meter IM, and added national titles in both IM events at the 2014 NCAA Championships as Stanford finished in second place.
The Pan Pacs roster was also honored at the beginning of the event, which included Felicia Lee, Simone Manuel and Cardinal head coach Greg Meehan, who was an assistant for Team USA.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics