Backstroke legend Adolph Kiefer honoured with USA Swimming award; Ryan Lochte becomes USA Athlete of the Year
The annual USA Aquatic Sports Awards banquet took place on the 18th of September 2010 in Dallas, Texas. Ryan Lochte, America’s most popular swimmer was named the USA Swimming’s Swimmers of the Year at the event. This is a big achievement for Ryan
Lochte, and he felt proud and lucky to have won this in the presence of Michael Phelps in the swimming arena. Ryan Lochte has participated in two Olympic Games. He was the winner of the most events at the recent Pan Pacific Championships that took place in
Omaha in late August. He won 6 gold medals in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Besides this, at the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, he was one of the high point winners. Swimmer of the Year award was Ryan Lochte’s second royal
in the same week, since he won the ConocoPhillips Performance Award on Friday the 17th of September.
The USA Swimming Award was awarded to the legendary backstroke swimmer and safety activist Adolph Kiefer on the 18th of September 2010 in Dallas, Texas. This is one of the most prestigious awards given to the athletes in America. Adolph is a 1936
Olympian, who spent most of his life struggling for the promotion of safety, health and fitness of those around him and especially the athletes and swimmers. He is also a veteran of the American Navy, and is estimated to have taught 13000 sailors how to swim.
Kiefer worked hard towards improving the swimming skills of the Navy men in the US Navy, which in itself is an award and an achievement. Adolf is also an owner of a company, known as Kiefer and Associates. The company manufactures safety products required
in swimming, since the legend has been working for the aquatic safety of the athletes for a very long time. He has also been an inductee for the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and became the member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness thrice.
On the basis of Kiefer’s active role in the safety of the swimmers and athletes, he has received a lot of recognition, from the US Navy as well as the Swimming USA. He has been adorned with a couple of awards in his athletic career. Moreover, “Adolf Kiefer
Safety Commendation Award” is an annual award named after the great backstroke swimmer.
As for the Swimmer of the Year award, the title is awarded to the swimmers who are judged by the USA Swimming House of Delegates. It is considered the most prestigious and significant award in the swimming arena. The swimmer with the most outstanding profile
that particular year is presented this award. Ryan Lochte was seen glowing on Saturday evening when he was presented this valuable award. His compatriot, Michael Phelps has been awarded the Swimmer of the Year, the most times. Phelps had been the winner of
the award from 2001 to 2008. His award winning streak was only briefly interrupted by Aaron Peirsol in 2005. In female athletes, the most celebrated swimmer who has won this award is Janet Evans. She was presented the American Swimmer of the Year Award from
1987 to 1991 consecutively. Other athletes who have been presented this award more than once include Tracy Caulkins, Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff and Jenny Thompson.
On the other hand, the USA Swimming Award was founded in the year 1981. The award was established to recognize the contributions of the athletes in the sport of swimming. This particular award mostly appreciates the financial and material services to the
athletes and other swimming related departments. It is usually presented to the individuals, associations or organizations, on the basis of their commendable work in the USA Swimming. It is one of the most precious awards adorned. It is a two-thirds life size
sculpture made out of bronze. The sculpture is that of a swimmer and is mounted over a wave which is made up of marble.
Tags: