NEW YORK, N.Y. - Stanford's Simone Manuel and Katie Ledecky each earned prestigious hardware at the 2016 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards on Monday night at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.
Ledecky become the first athlete – male or female – to win Golden Goggles' Athlete of the Year honors in four consecutive years. The Cardinal freshman was presented the award by Debbie Meyer, who was the last to sweep gold in the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyles at a single Olympics (1968) before Ledecky accomplished the feat at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janiero. The other two nominees for the award were also Cardinal -- Manuel and former standout Maya DiRado.
Congrats to @katieledecky!
— Stanford WSwim/Dive (@stanfordwswim) November 22, 2016
First athlete – male or female – to win #GoldenGoggles Athlete of the Year honors in four consecutive years pic.twitter.com/MWanGrWtBW
Manuel won the Golden Goggles for Female Race of the Year. At the Olympics, the Stanford junior and Sugar Land, Texas, native became the first African-American woman to win an individual medal in swimming. In a dramatic finish in the 100-meter freestyle, Manuel won gold when she touched the wall simultaneously with Canada's Penny Oleksiak at 52.70.
New owner of #GoldenGoggles. Congrats to @swimone13! #GoStanford?? #USASwimming #goldengogglesawards
A photo posted by Stanford W. Swimming (@stanfordwswim) on Nov 21, 2016 at 5:47pm PST
Former Cardinal standout and two-time gold medalist Maya DiRado was a nominee for Female Race of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year and Relay Performance of the Year. DiRado won four total medals in Rio, including bronze in the 200 individual medley, silver in the 400 IM, and gold in the 200 backstroke and 800 free relay.
Stanford head coach and Team USA assistant coach Greg Meehan was one of six nominated for Coach of the Year, which was won by Dave Durden.
Meehan, Manuel, Ledecky and the Cardinal return to action on Jan. 20 at Arizona State, and are back on The Farm on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 against UCLA and USC.
#GoStanford