2011 Andrew Rodriguez (VA) Football
2010 Evan Lysacek (IL) Figure Skating
2009 Amy Palmiero-Winters (NY) Ultra-marathoning
2008 Shawn Johnson (IA) Gymnastics
2007 Tim Tebow (FL) Football
2006 Jessica Long (MD) Paralympian
2005
JJ Redick (VA)
Basketball
2004
Paul Hamm (OH)
Gymnastics
2003
Michael Phelps (MD)
Swimming
2002
Sarah Hughes (NY)
Figure Skating
2001
Michelle Kwan (CA)
Figure Skating
2000
Rulon Gardner (WY)
Wrestling
1999
Coco & Kelly Miller (MN)
Basketball
1998
Chamique Holdsclaw (NY)
Basketball
1997
Peyton Manning (LA)
Football
1996
Michael Johnson (TX)
Athletics
1995
Bruce Baumgartner (PA)
Wrestling
1994
Dan Jansen (WI)
Speedskating
1993
Charlie Ward (FL)
Football
1992
Bonnie Blair (WI)
Speedskating
1991
Mike Powell (CA)
Athletics
1990
John Smith (OK)
Wrestling
1989
Janet Evans (CA)
Swimming
1988
Florence Griffith Joyner (CA)
Athletics
1987
Jim Abbott (MI)
Baseball
1986
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (MO)
Athletics
1985
Joan Benoit-Samuelson (ME)
Athletics
1984
Greg Louganis (CA)
Diving
1983
Edwin Moses (CA)
Athletics
1982
Mary Decker (OR)
Athletics
1981
F. Carl Lewis (TX)
Athletics
1980
Eric Heiden (WI)
Speedskating
1979
Kurt Thomas (IN)
Gymnastics
1978
Tracy Caulkins (TN)
Swimming
1977
John Naber (CA)
Swimming
1976
Bruce Jenner (CA)
Athletics
1975
Timothy Shaw (CA)
Swimming
1974
Richard Wohlhuter (IL)
Athletics
1973
William J. Walton (CA)
Basketball
1972
Frank Shorter (FL)
Athletics
1971
Mark Spitz (IN)
Swimming
1970
John Kinsella (IN)
Swimming
1969
William Toomey (CA)
Athletics
1968
Deborah E. Meyer (CA)
Swimming
1967
J. Randel Matson (TX)
Athletics
1966
James R. Ryun (KS)
Athletics
1965
William W. Bradley (NJ)
Basketball
1964
Donald A. Schollander (CA)
Swimming
1963
John Pennel (LA)
Athletics
1962
James T. Beatty (CA)
Athletics
1961
Wilma Rudolph (TN)
Athletics
1960
Rafer Johnson (CA)
Athletics
1959
W. Parry O’Brien (CA)
Athletics
1958
Glenn Davis (OH)
Athletics
1957
Bobby J. Morrow (TX)
Athletics
1956
Patricia McCormick (CA)
Diving
1955
Harrison Dillard (OH)
Athletics
1954
Malvin G. Whitfield (CA)
Athletics
1953
Sammy Lee (CA)
Diving
1952
Horace Ashenfelter III (NY)
Athletics
1951
Robert R. Richards (IL)
Athletics
1950
Fred Wilt (NY)
Athletics
1949
Richard T. Button (NJ)
Figure Skating
1948
Robert B. Mathias (CA)
Athletics
1947
John B. Kelly, Jr. (PA)
Sculling
1946
Y. Arnold Tucker (SC)
Football
1945
Felix Blanchard (SC)
Football
1944
Ann Curtis (CA)
Swimming
1943
Gilbert R.Dodds (MA)
Athletics
1942
Cornelius Warmerdam (CA)
Athletics
1941
T. Leslie MacMitchell (NY)
Athletics
1940
J. Gregory Rice (IN)
Athletics
1939
Joseph W. Burk (PA)
Sculling
1938
Donald R. Lash (IN)
Athletics
1937
J. Donald Budge (CA)
Tennis
1936
Glenn Moris (CO)
All-Around
1935
W. Lawson Little, Jr. (CA)
Golf
1934
William R. Bonthron (NY)
Athletics
1933
Glenn Cunningham (KS)
Athletics
1932
James A. Bausch (MO)
All-Around
1931
Bernard Berlinger (PA)
All-Around
1930
Robert T. Jones (GA)
Golf
     
 

Known as the “Oscar” of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishment and honors those who have leadership skill and strong character which is evident in his/her lifestyle as a whole.

Nominations for the AAU Sullivan Award are reviewed by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee and narrowed to approximately 10 semi-finalists. The finalists will be determined, by vote, and they will be invited to attend the awards presentation held at the oldest and largest sports club in America, the New York Athletic Club. The announcement of the 2012 AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award winner is set for April 16, 2013.

1: Any amateur athlete (collegiate or olympic level and above), in any sport, may be considered.

2: Qualities of individuals nominated should emphasize leadership, character, sportsmanship, and their accomplishments in the world of sport.

3: The AAU Sullivan Award Committee may take nominations based on information from anyone.

4: The athlete must be in attendance for the award presentation, except for extraordinary circumstances, in order to receive the award.

5: AAU Sullivan Award recipients are eligible for re-nomination for this honor.

6: Required Materials: head shot, 1-2 action pictures in your sport, paragraph bio of the 2012 accomplishments, and a highlight video (preferably 3-5 minutes and 5 varied action shots). We would like to create a 30 second video for each nominee at the Award Presentation.

7: Deadline for nomination submission is March 1, 2013.


For additional information, please contact Pam Marshall,
AAU National Office at (407) 934-7200 or sullivan@aausports.org