STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Ella Eastin, Katie Ledecky and Paul A. Violich Director of Women's Swimming Greg Meehan were nominated for Golden Goggles Awards on Wednesday.
Ledecky was nominated for two awards, including Female Race of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year. Eastin was nominated for the Perseverance Award, and Meehan is one of five nominees for Coach of the Year, an award he won last year. The complete list of 2018 Golden Goggle Award nominees by category is below.
Following standout performances throughout 2018, including the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo, the top swimmers from the United States will be honored at USA Swimming's 15th annual Golden Goggle Awards, slated for Monday, November 19 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
Eastin missed out on a trip to the FINA World Championships in Budapest following a disqualification in the 400-meter individual medley after an apparent runner-up finish, and in 2018, Eastin came down with mononucleosis in the lead up to Phillips 66 Nationals and was forced to miss significant training time. Down to her last race in her hometown of Irvine, Eastin delivered a third-place finish in the 200-meter individual medley to clinch a spot on the Pan Pacs roster.
Ledecky, who has won the Female Athlete of the Year award for a record five straight years, led the Team USA women at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships with five medals, including repeat gold-medal performances in the 400, 800 and 1500-meter freestyle events. She added silver in the 4x200 free relay and bronze in the 200 free. Earlier in 2018, Ledecky eclipsed her own world record in the 1500 free at the TYR Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis with a time of 15:20.48, won U.S. titles in the 200, 400 and 800 free at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships and claimed the women's overall TYR Pro Swim Series title. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Ledecky paced Stanford to a second straight NCAA women's team title with victories in the 500 and 1650-yard free.
Meehan led Stanford to the largest margin of victory at the NCAA Championships since 1993 and sent five swimmers to the Team USA roster for the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships – Katie Drabot, Eastin, Brooke Forde, Ledecky and Simone Manuel – combining for 11 medals in Tokyo. Ledecky and Manuel also captured a combined five titles at the 2018 Phillips 66 Nationals ranging from the 50 to 800-meter freestyle.
Online fan voting is now open and will continue through Friday, Nov. 9. A percentage of the fan vote will count towards the final ballot.
Proceeds from the Golden Goggle Awards benefit the USA Swimming Foundation, which has the mission to save lives and build champions – in the pool and in life. In addition to its Make a Splash initiative, a national, child-focused water safety campaign that stresses the importance of learning to swim, the USA Swimming Foundation supports the U.S. National Team and its development efforts aimed to establish an endowment to strengthen the future of USA Swimming's programs and services. The Foundation also serves as the home for our National and Olympic Team Alumni reunions and regional events.
2018 Golden Goggle Awards Nominees
Breakout Performer of the Year
Michael Andrew
Zach Harting
Austin Katz
Andrew Seliskar
Perseverance Award
Ella Eastin
Katie McLaughlin
Micah Sumrall
Coach of the Year
Jack Bauerle
Dave Durden
David Marsh
Teri McKeever
Greg Meehan
Relay Performance of the Year
Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Men's 4x100m Medley Relay, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Female Race of the Year
Katie Ledecky, 1500m Freestyle, 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis
Kathleen Baker, 100m Backstroke, 2018 Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships
Micah Sumrall, 200m Breaststroke, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Haley Anderson, Open Water 10K, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Male Race of the Year
Michael Andrew, 50m Freestyle, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Zane Grothe, 800m Freestyle, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Ryan Murphy, 100m Backstroke, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Chase Kalisz, 200m Individual Medley, 2018 Pan Pacific Championships
Female Athlete of the Year
Haley Anderson
Kathleen Baker
Katie Ledecky
Male Athlete of the Year
Chase Kalisz
Ryan Murphy
Jordan Wilimovsky