ORLANDO, Fla. (September 20, 2021) - There is only one national award that puts the best in sports, male and female, head-to-head for the title of “top athlete,” the AAU James E. Sullivan Award presented by Eastbay. The vote for the 91st rendition of the award will be open to the public starting Monday, September 20, 2021. The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete in the United States. Representatives from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize contributions and achievements from athletes across the country.
Voting for the award is open to the public by clicking here.
This year’s group of nominees includes:
• Aari McDonald, Women’s Basketball, University of Arizona
• Allyson Felix, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Ariel Torres, Karate, USA Karate
• Athing Mu, Track and Field, USA Track and Field/Texas A&M
• Ayo Dosunmu, Basketball, University of Illinois
• Brad Snyder, Paralympic Swimming & Triathlon, US Naval Academy
• Caeleb Dressel, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Caitlin Clark, Women's Basketball, University of Iowa
• Dana Rettke, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Dani Jones, Track and Field, University of Colorado Boulder
• David Taylor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
• Drew Timme, Basketball, Gonzaga University
• Erriyon Knighton, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Evan Medell, Paralympic Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo
• Gable Steveson, Wrestling, University of Minnesota/USA Wrestling
• Grant Holloway, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Javonte Perkins, Basketball, Saint Louis University
• Jocelyn Alo, Softball, University of Oklahoma
• Julia Arciola, Baton Twirling, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Justin Fields, Football, Ohio State University
• Kevin Kopps, Baseball, University of Arkansas
• Logan Eggleston, Volleyball, University of Texas
• Luka Garza, Basketball, University of Iowa
• Lydia Jacoby, Swimming, USA Swimming
• Maddie Musselman, Water Polo, USA Water Polo
• Madison Lilley, Volleyball, University of Kentucky
• Michael Penix Jr, Football, Indiana University
• Nick Lee, Wrestling, Penn State University
• Nick Piccininni, Wrestling, Oklahoma State University
• Obi Toppin, Basketball, University of Dayton
• Paige Bueckers, Women's Basketball, University of Connecticut
• Ryan Crouser, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Sam Howell, Football, University of North Carolina
• Simone Biles, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sunisa Lee, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
• Sydney Hilley, Volleyball, University of Wisconsin
• Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field, USA Track and Field
• Tamyra Mensah Stock, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
“These exceptional athletes truly embody the spirit of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award,” said Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, AAU President and CEO of the AAU. “They not only top performers in their sport, but also display qualities of leadership, good character, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.”
Last year, the AAU crowned co-winners Sabrina Ionescu, University of Oregon, and Spencer Lee, University of Iowa. Ionescu became the seventh basketball player to take home the award, while Lee became the fifth wrestler to be named the top athlete. The pair are the third duo to win, following the footsteps of the 86th recipients, former Navy quarterback, Keenan Reynolds and former University of Connecticut forward, Breanna Stewart in 2015 and the basketball twins Kelly and Coco Miller in 1999.
Ionescu and Lee joined a world renowned list of Sullivan Award recipients, including famed Olympians Michelle Kwan (2001), Michael Phelps (2003), Paul Hamm (2004) and Shawn Johnson (2008); University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997), Penn State guard John Urschel (2013); 200m backstroke world record holder Missy Franklin (2012) and University of Wisconsin setter Lauren Carlini (2016).
Voting for the award is open to the public by clicking here.
The finalist voting round opens at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 20 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 27. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award presentation will be held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. on Friday, October 22 with a special recognition reception in conjunction with the Orlando Magic later that night.
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ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest- non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts.
For more information, visit www.aausports.org | Instagram: @AAUSports | Twitter: @TheRealAAU | YouTube: youtube.com/TheRealAAUvideo | Facebook: facebook.com/realAAU
ABOUT EASTBAY:
Since 1980, Eastbay has been dedicated to providing high school athletes with the footwear, apparel, and equipment they need to take their game to the next level. As part of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL), Eastbay is focused on serving athletes who know what it takes to win, both on and off the field, through its direct mail catalog and eastbay.com. Through product selection, insider knowledge, and a range of athletes and experts, Eastbay delivers the tools athletes need to win their style of play and post-game looks.
Additional information may be found at eastbay.com | Instagram: @officialeastbay | Twitter: @eastbay | YouTube: youtube.com/eastbay | Blog: blog.eastbay.com | Facebook: facebook.com/eastbay
