The first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press (AP) in 1931. At a time when women in sports were not given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete. The awards are voted on annually by a panel of AP sports editors from across the United States, covering mainly American sports. As a result, a large majority of the winners have been Americans. However, non-Americans are also eligible for the honor and have won on a few occasions.

AP Athlete of the Year

List of award winners
Year Male Female
Name Sport Name Sport
1931United States Pepper MartinMajor League BaseballUnited States Helene MadisonSwimming
1932United States Gene SarazenGolfUnited States Babe DidriksonTrack and field
1933United States Carl HubbellMajor League BaseballUnited States Helen JacobsTennis
1934United States Dizzy DeanMajor League BaseballUnited States Virginia Van WieGolf
1935United States Joe LouisBoxingUnited States Helen Wills MoodyTennis
1936United States Jesse OwensTrack and fieldUnited States Helen StephensTrack and field
1937United States Don BudgeTennisUnited States Katherine RawlsSwimming
1938United States Don Budge (2)TennisUnited States Patty BergGolf
1939United States Nile KinnickCollege footballUnited States Alice MarbleTennis
1940United States Tom HarmonCollege footballUnited States Alice Marble (2)Tennis
1941United States Joe DiMaggioMajor League BaseballUnited States Betty Hicks NewellGolf
1942United States Frank SinkwichCollege footballUnited States Gloria CallenSwimming
1943Sweden Gunder HäggTrack and fieldUnited States Patty Berg (2)Golf
1944United States Byron NelsonGolfUnited States Ann CurtisSwimming
1945United States Byron Nelson (2)GolfUnited States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (2)Golf
1946United States Glenn DavisCollege footballUnited States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (3)Golf
1947United States Johnny LujackCollege footballUnited States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (4)Golf
1948United States Lou BoudreauMajor League BaseballNetherlands Fanny Blankers-KoenTrack and field
1949United States Leon HartCollege footballUnited States Marlene BauerGolf
1950United States Jim KonstantyMajor League BaseballUnited States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (5)Golf
1951United States Dick KazmaierCollege footballUnited States Maureen ConnollyTennis
1952United States Bob MathiasTrack and fieldUnited States Maureen Connolly (2)Tennis
1953United States Ben HoganGolfUnited States Maureen Connolly (3)Tennis
1954United States Willie MaysMajor League BaseballUnited States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (6)Golf
1955United States Howard CassadyCollege footballUnited States Patty Berg (3)Golf
1956United States Mickey MantleMajor League BaseballUnited States Pat McCormickDiving
1957United States Ted WilliamsMajor League BaseballUnited States Althea GibsonTennis
1958Australia Herb ElliottTrack and fieldUnited States Althea Gibson (2)Tennis
1959Sweden Ingemar JohanssonBoxingBrazil Maria BuenoTennis
1960United States Rafer JohnsonTrack and fieldUnited States Wilma RudolphTrack and field
1961United States Roger MarisMajor League BaseballUnited States Wilma Rudolph (2)Track and field
1962United States Maury WillsMajor League BaseballAustralia Dawn FraserSwimming
1963United States Sandy KoufaxMajor League BaseballUnited States Mickey WrightGolf
1964United States Don SchollanderSwimmingUnited States Mickey Wright (2)Golf
1965United States Sandy Koufax (2)Major League BaseballUnited States Kathy WhitworthGolf
1966United States Frank RobinsonMajor League BaseballUnited States Kathy Whitworth (2)Golf
1967United States Carl YastrzemskiMajor League BaseballUnited States Billie Jean KingTennis
1968United States Denny McLainMajor League BaseballUnited States Peggy FlemingFigure skating
1969United States Tom SeaverMajor League BaseballUnited States Debbie MeyerSwimming
1970United States George BlandaNational Football LeagueTaiwan Chi ChengTrack and field
1971United States Lee TrevinoGolfAustralia Evonne GoolagongTennis
1972United States Mark SpitzSwimmingSoviet Union Olga KorbutGymnastics
1973United States O. J. SimpsonNational Football LeagueUnited States Billie Jean King (2)Tennis
1974United States Muhammad AliBoxingUnited States Chris EvertTennis
1975United States Fred LynnMajor League BaseballUnited States Chris Evert (2)Tennis
1976United States Bruce JennerTrack and fieldRomania Nadia ComăneciGymnastics
1977United States Steve CauthenHorse racingUnited States Chris Evert (3)Tennis
1978United States Ron GuidryMajor League BaseballUnited States Nancy LopezGolf
1979United States Willie StargellMajor League BaseballUnited States Tracy AustinTennis
1980United States U.S. Olympic hockey teamIce hockeyUnited States Chris Evert Lloyd (4)Tennis
1981United States John McEnroeTennisUnited States Tracy Austin (2)Tennis
1982Canada Wayne GretzkyNational Hockey LeagueUnited States Mary TabbTrack and field
1983United States Carl LewisTrack and fieldUnited States Martina NavratilovaTennis
1984United States Carl Lewis (2)Track and fieldUnited States Mary Lou RettonGymnastics
1985United States Dwight GoodenMajor League BaseballUnited States Nancy Lopez (2)Golf
1986United States Larry BirdNational Basketball AssociationUnited States Martina Navratilova (2)Tennis
1987Canada Ben JohnsonTrack and fieldUnited States Jackie Joyner-KerseeTrack and field
1988United States Orel HershiserMajor League BaseballUnited States Florence Griffith JoynerTrack and field
1989United States Joe MontanaNational Football LeagueWest Germany Steffi GrafTennis
1990United States Joe Montana (2)National Football LeagueUnited States Beth DanielGolf
1991United States Michael JordanNational Basketball AssociationSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles[1]Tennis
1992United States Michael Jordan (2)National Basketball AssociationFederal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles (2)Tennis
1993United States Michael Jordan (3)National Basketball AssociationUnited States Sheryl SwoopesCollege basketball
1994United States George ForemanBoxingUnited States Bonnie BlairSpeed skating
1995United States Cal Ripken Jr.Major League BaseballUnited States Rebecca LoboCollege basketball
1996United States Michael JohnsonTrack and fieldUnited States Amy Van DykenSwimming
1997United States Tiger WoodsGolfSwitzerland Martina HingisTennis
1998United States Mark McGwireMajor League BaseballSouth Korea Se Ri PakGolf
1999United States Tiger Woods (2)Golf[2]United States U.S. women's soccer teamSoccer
2000United States Tiger Woods (3)Golf[3]United States Marion JonesTrack and field
2001United States Barry BondsMajor League Baseball[4]United States Jennifer CapriatiTennis
2002United States Lance ArmstrongRoad bicycle racing[5]United States Serena WilliamsTennis
2003United States Lance Armstrong (2)Road bicycle racing[6]Sweden Annika SörenstamGolf
2004United States Lance Armstrong (3)Road bicycle racing[7]Sweden Annika Sörenstam (2)Golf
2005United States Lance Armstrong (4)Road bicycle racing[8]Sweden Annika Sörenstam (3)Golf
2006United States Tiger Woods (4)Golf[9]Mexico Lorena OchoaGolf
2007United States Tom BradyNational Football League[10]Mexico Lorena Ochoa (2)Golf
2008United States Michael PhelpsSwimming[11]United States Candace ParkerWomen's National Basketball Association
2009United States Jimmie Johnson[12]NASCARUnited States Serena Williams (2)Tennis
2010United States Drew BreesNational Football League[13]United States Lindsey VonnSkiing
2011United States Aaron Rodgers[14]National Football LeagueUnited States Abby WambachSoccer
2012United States Michael Phelps (2)Swimming[15]United States Gabby DouglasGymnastics
2013United States LeBron JamesNational Basketball Association[16]United States Serena Williams (3)Tennis
2014United States Madison Bumgarner[17]Major League BaseballUnited States Mo'ne Davis[18]Little League baseball
2015United States Stephen CurryNational Basketball Association[19]United States Serena Williams (4)Tennis
2016United States LeBron James (2)National Basketball Association[20]United States Simone BilesGymnastics
2017Venezuela José Altuve[21]Major League BaseballUnited States Katie Ledecky[22]Swimming
2018United States LeBron James (3)[23]National Basketball AssociationUnited States Serena Williams (5)[24]Tennis
2019United States Kawhi Leonard[25]National Basketball AssociationUnited States Simone Biles (2)Gymnastics
2020United States LeBron James (4)National Basketball Association Japan Naomi Osaka Tennis
2021Japan Shohei Ohtani[26]Major League BaseballUnited States Candace Parker (2)[27]Women's National Basketball Association
2022United States Aaron JudgeMajor League Baseball United States Katie Ledecky (2)Swimming
2023Japan Shohei Ohtani (2)Major League Baseball United States Simone Biles (3)Gymnastics

Multiple awards

List of male award winners
Name Sport Awards Years
Lance ArmstrongRoad bicycle racing42002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Tiger WoodsGolf41997, 1999, 2000, 2006
LeBron JamesBasketball42013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Michael JordanBasketball31991, 1992, 1993
Don BudgeTennis21937, 1938
Sandy KoufaxBaseball21963, 1965
Carl LewisTrack and field21983, 1984
Joe MontanaAmerican football21989, 1990
Byron NelsonGolf21944, 1945
Shohei OhtaniBaseball22021, 2023
Michael PhelpsSwimming22008, 2012
List of female award winners
Name Sport Awards Years
Babe DidriksonGolf/Track and field61932, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1954
Serena WilliamsTennis52002, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018
Chris EvertTennis41974, 1975, 1977, 1980
Maureen ConnollyTennis31951, 1952, 1953
Annika SörenstamGolf32003, 2004, 2005
Simone BilesGymnastics32016, 2019, 2023
Alice MarbleTennis21939, 1940
Althea GibsonTennis21957, 1958
Wilma RudolphTrack and field21960, 1961
Mickey WrightGolf21963, 1964
Kathy WhitworthGolf21965, 1966
Billie Jean KingTennis21967, 1973
Tracy AustinGolf21979, 1981
Nancy LopezGolf21978, 1985
Martina NavratilovaTennis21983, 1986
Monica SelesTennis21991, 1992
Lorena OchoaGolf22006, 2007
Candace ParkerBasketball22008, 2021
Katie LedeckySwimming22017, 2022

AP Athlete of the Decade

List of award winners
Decade Male Female
Name Sport Name Sport
1960sUnited States Arnold PalmerGolfNone Awarded
1970s United States Jack Nicklaus Golf
1980sCanada Wayne GretzkyHockey
1990s United States Michael Jordan Basketball
2000sUnited States Tiger WoodsGolf
2010sUnited States LeBron JamesBasketballUnited States Serena WilliamsTennis

Footnotes

  1. Became a U.S. citizen in 1994.
  2. "Tiger AP's Male Athlete Of Year". CBS News. Associated Press. December 27, 1999. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  3. Ferguson, Doug (December 27, 2000). "Year of the Tiger". Missoulian. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  4. "Barry Bonds Voted The Associated Press Male of the Year". Jet. 101 (4): 52. January 12, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2019 via Google Books.
  5. Vertuino, Jim (December 27, 2002). "Armstrong named AP Athlete of the Year Perseverance: Four-time Tour de France champion tops Bonds". The Brownsville Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  6. "NAMES & GAMES Lance Armstrong: AP Male Athlete of the Year". New Haven Register. December 29, 2003. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  7. Vertuno, Jim (December 29, 2004). "Armstrong, Sorenstam honored as athletes of year". Deseret News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  8. "Lance Armstrong wins AP male athlete honours". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 28, 2005. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  9. "Woods wins AP male athlete award for 2006". Orlando Sentinel. December 26, 2006. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  10. Flannery, Paul (December 21, 2007). "Tom Brady's Charmed Year Continues". Boston. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  11. "Michael Phelps Named The Associated Press Top Sports Story, AP Male Athlete of 2008". Swimming World. December 24, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  12. "Johnson is AP's top male athlete of '09". Associated Press (ESPN.com). December 21, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  13. Triplett, Mike (December 18, 2010). "New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees fourth QB to be named AP Athlete of the Year". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  14. Markovich, Tony (December 21, 2011). "Associated Press Votes Aaron Rodgers 2011 Male Athlete of the Year". Complex. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  15. "Michael Phelps Named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year". Swimming World. December 20, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  16. Schilken, Chuck (December 26, 2013). "LeBron James named Associated Press' male athlete of the year". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  17. "Madison Bumgarner gets AP honor". Associated Press (via ESPN.com). December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  18. "Davis wins AP Female Athlete of the Year honors - NBC Sports | NBC Sports". Archived from the original on 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  19. Herbert, James (December 26, 2015). "Warriors' Stephen Curry named AP Male Athlete of the Year". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  20. Withers, Tom (December 27, 2016). "Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James named AP Male Athlete of Year". The News-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  21. "Astros star Jose Altuve named AP Male Athlete of the Year". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  22. Beth Harris (2017-12-26). "Katie Ledecky Swims to AP Female Athlete of the Year Honors". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  23. Holleran, Andrew (December 27, 2018). "Associated Press Names Its 2018 Male Athlete Of The Year". thespun.com. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  24. Mahoney, Brian (December 26, 2018). "Serena voted AP Female Athlete of the Year for 5th time". The Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  25. "Kawhi Leonard and Simone Biles Are AP's Athletes of the Year". complex.com. December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  26. "One of a kind: Ohtani wins AP Male Athlete of Year award". apnews.com/. December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  27. "Candace Parker voted AP Female Athlete of Year for 2nd time". Associated Press. 29 December 2021.

Notes

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