STANFORD, Calif. - Sophomore swimmer Katie Ledecky was nominated by the world media for the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award on Tuesday, as announced by the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Ledecky is one of six nominees selected for the international honor. She is joined by American track and field star Allyson Felix, tennis standouts Garbine Muguruza (Spain) and Serena Williams (USA), American skier Mikaela Shiffrin and South African track star Caster Semenya. The winners, as voted for by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, will be revealed in Monaco on Feb. 27.
"I wish to thank the world's media and Laureus for the honor of this nomination," Ledecky said. "It was a great privilege for me to compete this year for both Team USA and Stanford University. I have great admiration for the Laureus Foundation and all of its ambassadors for the work they do around the world. I also wish to offer my congratulations and best wishes to all of the nominees, with special congratulations to my fellow Team USA swimmer Caeleb Dressel for his nomination in the Breakthrough of the Year Category."
Ledecky, who recently became the first swimmer to be named AP Female Athlete of the Year since 1996, had arguably the best freshman season in the history of collegiate swimming. In her first year at Stanford under head coach Greg Meehan, Ledecky set five individual American records and seven individual NCAA records in three different events, and broke Stanford team records in five individual events en route to five All-America honors. The Bethesda, Maryland, native became just the second freshman to win the Honda Cup, awarded to the top collegiate women's athlete – she and Lobo are the only athletes to win both awards in the same year.
On the international stage, Ledecky won six medals at the world championships to become the most decorated female swimmer in world championship history. Ledecky, who was also named Female Olympic Athlete of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee, is a two-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist, and has broken 13 world records and 32 American records in her swimming career.
#GoStanford
