NEW YORK (February 14, 2024) – Thirty athletes, each at the top of their respective sports, have been chosen as semi-finalists for the 94th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similar elite level in the United States. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes the qualities of leadership, citizenship, character, and sportsmanship on and off the playing surface.
The one-week voting period to determine the six finalists opens to the public today and closes on Wednesday, February 21 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Cast your vote here!
This year’s group of semi-finalists, each nominated by their school, national governing body, or agency, includes:
- Adeline Gray, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
- 9x World Championship medalist, 2x Olympian
- Amit Elor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
- 2x Senior World Championships gold medalist, 2x U23 World Championships gold medalist
- Bo Nix, Football, University of Oregon
- William V. Campbell Trophy winner for best combination of on-field performance, academics, and community service, Heisman Trophy finalist
- Brennan O’Neill, Lacrosse, Duke University
- 2023 Tewaaraton Award winner as nation’s best lacrosse player, 2023 World Lacrosse Championship Most Outstanding Player
- Caitlin Clark, Basketball, University of Iowa
- 2023 Consensus National Player of the Year, currently second on the NCAA women’s basketball all-time scoring list
- Cameron Brink, Basketball, Stanford
- 3x Pac-12 champion, 2023 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year
- CJ Nickolas, Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo
- 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist, qualified for 2024 Paris Olympics
- Cory Thiesse, Curling, USA Curling
- 2023 Mixed Doubles World Champion, 2x National Champion in 2023
- David Taylor, Wrestling, USA Wrestling
- 2023 World Champion, 1x Olympic gold medalist
- Dejah Mulipola, Softball, USA Softball
- 2x Pan American Games gold medalist, 1x Olympic silver medalist
- Eli Dershwitz, Fencing, USA Fencing
- 2023 World Champion, 2x Olympian
- Emery Lehman, Speed Skating, US Speedskating
- Current world record holder in Team Pursuit, 1x Olympic bronze medalist
- Ethan Champlin, Volleyball, UCLA
- 2023 NCAA Champion, 2x first-team All-America selection
- Frederick Richard, Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics
- 3x NCAA champion, 2x World Championships medalist in 2023
- Izzy Scane, Lacrosse, Northwestern University
- 2023 Tewaaraton Award winner as nation’s best lacrosse player, 2023 NCAA Tournament MVP
- JuJu Watkins, Basketball, University of Southern California
- Jersey Mike’s Naismith Award Watch List, currently ranks at the No. 2 scorer in the nation for this season
- Kate Douglass, Swimming, USA Swimming
- 9x World Championships medalist, American record holder in the 200m breaststroke
- Katie Ledecky, Swimming, USA Swimming
- 26x World Championships medalist, 10x Olympic medalist
- Kiki Milloy, Softball, University of Tennessee
- 2023 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team, consensus first-team All-American
- Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, Track & Field (Discus), USA Track & Field
- 2023 World Champion, first American woman to win a discus world title
- Madisen Skinner, Volleyball, University of Texas
- 3x NCAA Champion, 2023 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding player
- Noah Jaffe, Para Swimming, U.S. Paralympics Swimming
- 4x World Championships medalist, Swimmer of the Meet at the U.S. Paralympic Championships
- Noah Lyles, Track & Field, USA Track & Field
- 6x World Champion, 200m American record holder
- Payton Wilson, Football, NC State
- 2023 Butkus Award winner as nation’s top linebacker, 2023 Bednarik Award winner as nation’s top defensive player
- Rose Zhang, Golf, Stanford
- 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion, 2x NCAA Champion
- Ryan Crouser, Track & Field (Shot Put, USA Track & Field)
- 2x World Champion, current shot put world record holder
- Ryan Murphy, Swimming, USA Swimming
- 17x World Championships medalist, 6x Olympic medalist
- Sara Hughes, Beach Volleyball, USA Volleyball
- 2023 Beach World Champion, 6x National Champion
- Travis Hunter, Football, University of Colorado – Boulder
- Paul Hornung Award winner as nation’s most versatile player, consensus first-team All-American
- Zach Edey, Basketball, Purdue
- 2023 Consensus National Player of the Year, 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational MVP
“Any of these semi-finalists would be a deserving winner of the AAU Sullivan Award,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “We’re proud of these athletes for not only excelling in their sport but thriving as leaders and members of their communities.”
The winner of the 94th AAU Sullivan Award will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the New York Athletic Club.
The winner will join a renowned list of recipients. Last year, Caitlin Clark took home the trophy – and, since she’s a semi-finalist again, could become the first-ever two-time winner of the award. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Carl Lewis, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
VOTE NOW
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ABOUT THE AAU:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports event 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 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.
