Gators Volunteer Coach becomes the first female swimmer to win the award multiple times.
NEW YORK CITY, New York – Gators Volunteer coach Katie Ledecky was named The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, selected by a panel of 40 sports writers and editors from news outlets across the country, the Associated Press announced Wednesday morning. This is the second time Ledecky has won the award (2017), becoming the first female swimmer to do so, and joins Michael Phelps as the only swimmers to win the award multiple times.
In a record-setting 2022, Ledecky claimed four gold medals at the 2022 FINA World Championships in June, sweeping the 400m free, 800m free, 1500m free, and was part of the 4x200m free relay that took gold. The Gators Volunteer coach was the only women to win multiple events on the global stage, and was the fourth time she has swept the women’s distance events at the World Championships.
Earlier this month, Ledecky broke her own U.S. Open 400m free record, clocking a 3:59.71, part of her three titles during the event. She was the first female to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Trials.
At the FINA World Cup in October, Ledecky shattered the world record in the SCM 1500 free at 15:08.24, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the previous record, while setting an American Record and the second-fastest ever swim of 3:52.88 in the SCM 400 free.
At the 2022 Golden Goggles, Ledecky won three awards, including 2022 Female Athlete of the Year. It marked the eighth time she has claimed the award (2013-2018, 2021, 2022), passing Phelps for the most in USA Swimming history.
Ledecky is in her second season on staff after joining in September of 2021.
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