This award is given to the male swimmer with the greatest single individual race of the year, with special emphasis on the 2009 World Championships. Past Winners 2008: 100 Butterfly (Olympic Games) - Michael Phelps
2007: 200 Butterfly (World Championships) - Michael Phelps
2006: 200 IM (Pan Pacific Championships) - Michael Phelps
2005: 100 Butterfly (World Championships) - Ian Crocker
2004: 100 Butterfly (Olympic Games) - Michael Phelps Peirsol had a dominating summer in the 200m back in 2009, breaking the world record first at World Championship Trials and then again at the World Championships in Rome. In Rome, Peirsol defeated Ryan Lochte and Japan’s Ryosuke Irie, who won the silver. The race unfolded with Peirsol and Lochte exchanging the lead at the 50- and 100-meter marks. On the third 50, Peirsol pulled away from Lochte and held off a fast-charging Irie over the final length, breaking his own world record and becoming the first person to swim the even in under one minute and 52 seconds.  Michael Phelps: 100m Butterfly at World Championships
It was billed as the showdown of the World Championships – Michael Phelps taking on Milorad Cavic of Serbia. A rematch of their epic race at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In both the preliminary and semifinal races, Cavic finished as the top qualifier, and in the semis, he took down Phelps’ world record and nearly broke the 50 second mark (50.01). In the final, Phelps split a 23.36, just seven-tenths behind the Serb at the 50 meter mark. Phelps caught Cavic in the final lap, and with about 10 meters to go, finally had pulled even. He nailed the finish to win gold, becoming the first person to break 50 seconds in the 100 fly (49.82).  Michael Phelps: 200 Butterfly at World Championships
At the start of the summer, the 200m fly was not in Michael Phelps’ plans for the Rome World Championships. He and his coach had decided on some other races, but after a solid 200m fly in Santa Clara early in the summer, the decision about what to swim in Rome became clear. At the World Championships, Phelps was dominant from start to finish in the 200m fly. He even had the fastest reaction time off the blocks. He led at every turn, and cruised to a 1.7 second victory over his nearest competitor.
Breakout Athlete Perseverance Award Coach of the Year Relay Performance Female Race of the Year Female Athlete of the Year Male Athlete of the Year
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