This award is given to the top male swimmer of the year, with special emphasis on the 2009 FINA World Championships. Past Winners 2008: Michael Phelps
2007: Michael Phelps
2006: Brendan Hansen
2005: Aaron Peirsol
2004: Michael Phelps
Ryan Lochte left Rome this summer as one of the most decorated athletes of the FINA World Championships. While in Italy, Lochte set two world records and took home a total of four gold medals and one bronze medal. After winning both the 200m and 400m IM at Nationals in July, Lochte solidified his position as the top IM swimmer in the world with World Championship titles in both the 400m and 200m IM. He was also an integral part of both the gold-medal winning 4 x 100m relay team that upset the French, as well as the world-record setting 4 x 200m free relay.  Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Peirsol set the swimming world on fire in 2009 when he broke world records in the 100m and 200m back at the World Championship Trials in July. Weeks later at the FINA World Championships, Peirsol broke the world record and won the gold-medal in the 200m back. Peirsol took home his second gold medal and world record of the meet as the lead-off in the 4 x 100m medley relay. With his world-record swims this year, Peirsol made history as he became the first person to swim the 100m back in under 52 seconds and the first person to swim the 200m back in under 1 minute and 52 seconds.  Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps had strong performances at both the 2009 ConocoPhillips National Championships and the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. At Nationals in July, Phelps won three events (200m free / 100m and 200m fly) and broke the world record in the 100m fly – a record that had eluded the world class swimmer since 2005. Weeks later at World Championships in Rome, Phelps won six medals, including gold medals in the 200m and 100m fly, 4 X 100m free relay, 4 X 200m free relay and 4 X 100m medley relay. He set two individual world records in the 200m and 100m fly and became the first person in history to swim the 100m fly under 50 seconds.
Breakout Athlete Perseverance Award Coach of the Year Relay Performance Female Race of the Year Male Race of the Year Female Athlete of the Year
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