Katie Ledecky and Ryan Lochte reigned at the Golden Goggles much like they dominated their competition this past year.
Ledecky and Lochte swept Athlete of the Year and Race of the Year at USA Swimming’s 10th annual awards hosted by Kevin Nealon in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Ledecky, 16, won four gold medals and broke two world records at the World Championships in Barcelona over the summer. She added to her Olympic gold in the 1500m with world titles in the 400m, 800m (world record), 1500m (world record) and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Ledecky beat out Missy Franklin and Haley Anderson for Female Athlete of the Year. She won Race of the Year for her 1500m swim for the second straight year.
“It’s been a process, and it’s been a fun one,” said Ledecky, a Bethesda, Md., high school junior who flew to Los Angeles, according to USA Swimming. “I owe that to my family, my teammates, my classmates, my teachers – everyone I’ve been surrounded with.”
Lochte, 29, won three gold medals (200m backstroke, 200m individual medley, 4x200m free relay) and one silver (4x100m free relay) at the World Championships. Now a four-time Male Athlete of the Year, he won Race of the Year for his 200m IM gold.
Lochte, who beat Matt Grevers for Male Athlete of the Year, was not in attendance but taped a video message. He said he didn’t fly to Los Angeles on doctors’ orders because of his recent injury after a run-in with a fan, according to Swimming World.
“Ryan is fine, he just got tackled a little bit,” said swim coach Jon Urbanchek, who accepted on Lochte’s behalf, according to The Associated Press.
The Relay Performance of the Year went to the women’s 4x100m free relay at the World Championships (Missy Franklin, Natalie Coughlin, Shannon Vreeland, Megan Romano) that won gold in an American record.
Chase Kalisz, 19, won Breakout Performer of the Year after winning silver in the 400m IM at worlds, his first major international meet.
Romano took home the Perseverance Award after failing to make the 2012 Olympic Team and bouncing back to win six medals at the World University Games and two golds at worlds.
Ledecky’s coach, Bruce Gemmell, won Coach of the Year.
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