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.
Winners Award Year Winner Sport(s)Reference 1930 Golf 1931 Decathlon 1932 1933 Running (middle distance) 1934 1935 Golf 1936 Decathlon 1937 Tennis 1938 Running (long distance) 1939 Rowing 1940 Running (long distance) 1941 Running (middle distance/cross country) 1942 Pole vault 1943 Running (middle distance) 1944 Swimming 1945 Football 1946 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 1959 Shot put & discus 1960 Decathlon 1961 Running (sprint) 1962 Running (middle and long distance) 1963 Pole vault 1964 Swimming 1965 Basketball 1966 Running (middle distance) 1967 Shot put & discus 1968 Swimming 1969 Decathlon 1970 Swimming 1971 1972 Running (long distance) 1973 Basketball 1974 Running (middle distance) 1975 Swimming 1976 Decathlon 1977 Swimming 1978 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 1998 Basketball 1999 Kelly Miller 2000 Wrestling 2001 Figure skating 2002 2003 Swimming 2004 Gymnastics 2005 Basketball 2006 Swimming 2007 Football 2008 Gymnastics 2009 Running (ultra marathon) 2010 Figure skating 2011 Football 2012 Swimming 2013 Football 2014 2015 Breanna Stewart Basketball2016 Volleyball2017 Wrestling 2018 Volleyball 2019 Basketball Spencer Lee Wrestling 2020 Gymnastics Caeleb Dressel Swimming 2021 Surfing 2022 Basketball 2023 2024 Lexi Rodriguez Volleyball 2025 Tatyana McFadden Wheelchair track and field
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