This award is given to the top female swimmer of the year, with special emphasis on the 2009 FINA World Championships. Past Winners
2008: Natalie Coughlin
2007: Katie Hoff
2006: Katie Hoff
2005: Katie Hoff
2004: Natalie Coughlin  Ariana Kukors
Ariana Kukors made the most of her opportunities at the 2009 World Championships. Kukors broke the American record in the prelims of the 200m IM and then shattered the world record not once, but twice on her way to her first World Championship gold medal. In the semifinal of the event, Kukors broke Australian Stephanie Rice’s world record by more than a second and in the final, Kukors won gold in 2:06.15, dropping another second off the world record. In addition to her outstanding performance in the 200m IM, Kukors also earned a silver medal in the American record-setting 4 x 200m free relay. 
Rebecca Soni Rebecca Soni followed a breakout year in 2008 with stellar performances at the 2009 World Championships, ConocoPhillips National Championships and the NCAA Championships. In the spring, she ended her collegiate career at USC by sweeping both breaststroke events at the NCAA Championships. Her win in the 200y breast was done in American record time and she broke the NCAA record in the 100m breast. At the 2009 ConocoPhillips National Championships in July, Soni won both the 100m and 200m breast, setting an American record in the 100m discipline. She then followed up her performance at Nationals with a strong performance at World Championships in Rome, winning the 100m breast in world-record time and earning a silver medal in the 50m breast.  Dana Vollmer
Dana Vollmer had an impressive year in 2009 with strong performances at both the NCAA Championships and the 2009 FINA World Championships. Vollmer ended her college career at Cal with two individual NCAA titles and two NCAA relay titles, leading the Golden Bears to their first-ever NCAA team title. At her second World Championships this summer, she captured a silver medal in the 4 x 200m free relay and a bronze medal in the 200m free. Vollmer also won the 100m and 200m free at the 2009 ConocoPhillips National Championships.
Breakout Athlete Perseverance Award Coach of the Year Relay Performance Female Race of the Year Male Race of the Year Male Athlete of the Year
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