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
1931 United States Pepper Martin Major League Baseball United States Helene Madison Swimming
1932 United States Gene Sarazen Golf United States Babe Didrikson Track and field
1933 United States Carl Hubbell Major League Baseball United States Helen Jacobs Tennis
1934 United States Dizzy Dean Major League Baseball United States Virginia Van Wie Golf
1935 United States Joe Louis Boxing United States Helen Wills Moody Tennis
1936 United States Jesse Owens Track and field United States Helen Stephens Track and field
1937 United States Don Budge Tennis United States Katherine Rawls Swimming
1938 United States Don Budge (2) Tennis United States Patty Berg Golf
1939 United States Nile Kinnick College football United States Alice Marble Tennis
1940 United States Tom Harmon College football United States Alice Marble (2) Tennis
1941 United States Joe DiMaggio Major League Baseball United States Betty Hicks Newell Golf
1942 United States Frank Sinkwich College football United States Gloria Callen Swimming
1943 Sweden Gunder Hägg Track and field United States Patty Berg (2) Golf
1944 United States Byron Nelson Golf United States Ann Curtis Swimming
1945 United States Byron Nelson (2) Golf United States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (2) Golf
1946 United States Glenn Davis College football United States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (3) Golf
1947 United States Johnny Lujack College football United States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (4) Golf
1948 United States Lou Boudreau Major League Baseball Netherlands Fanny Blankers-Koen Track and field
1949 United States Leon Hart College football United States Marlene Bauer Golf
1950 United States Jim Konstanty Major League Baseball United States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (5) Golf
1951 United States Dick Kazmaier College football United States Maureen Connolly Tennis
1952 United States Bob Mathias Track and field United States Maureen Connolly (2) Tennis
1953 United States Ben Hogan Golf United States Maureen Connolly (3) Tennis
1954 United States Willie Mays Major League Baseball United States Babe Didrikson Zaharias (6) Golf
1955 United States Howard Cassady College football United States Patty Berg (3) Golf
1956 United States Mickey Mantle Major League Baseball United States Pat McCormick Diving
1957 United States Ted Williams Major League Baseball United States Althea Gibson Tennis
1958 Australia Herb Elliott Track and field United States Althea Gibson (2) Tennis
1959 Sweden Ingemar Johansson Boxing Brazil Maria Bueno Tennis
1960 United States Rafer Johnson Track and field United States Wilma Rudolph Track and field
1961 United States Roger Maris Major League Baseball United States Wilma Rudolph (2) Track and field
1962 United States Maury Wills Major League Baseball Australia Dawn Fraser Swimming
1963 United States Sandy Koufax Major League Baseball United States Mickey Wright Golf
1964 United States Don Schollander Swimming United States Mickey Wright (2) Golf
1965 United States Sandy Koufax (2) Major League Baseball United States Kathy Whitworth Golf
1966 United States Frank Robinson Major League Baseball United States Kathy Whitworth (2) Golf
1967 United States Carl Yastrzemski Major League Baseball United States Billie Jean King Tennis
1968 United States Denny McLain Major League Baseball United States Peggy Fleming Figure skating
1969 United States Tom Seaver Major League Baseball United States Debbie Meyer Swimming
1970 United States George Blanda National Football League Taiwan Chi Cheng Track and field
1971 United States Lee Trevino Golf Australia Evonne Goolagong Tennis
1972 United States Mark Spitz Swimming Soviet Union Olga Korbut Gymnastics
1973 United States O. J. Simpson National Football League United States Billie Jean King (2) Tennis
1974 United States Muhammad Ali Boxing United States Chris Evert Tennis
1975 United States Fred Lynn Major League Baseball United States Chris Evert (2) Tennis
1976 United States Bruce Jenner Track and field Romania Nadia Comăneci Gymnastics
1977 United States Steve Cauthen Horse racing United States Chris Evert (3) Tennis
1978 United States Ron Guidry Major League Baseball United States Nancy Lopez Golf
1979 United States Willie Stargell Major League Baseball United States Tracy Austin Tennis
1980 United States U.S. Olympic hockey team Ice hockey United States Chris Evert Lloyd (4) Tennis
1981 United States John McEnroe Tennis United States Tracy Austin (2) Tennis
1982 Canada Wayne Gretzky National Hockey League United States Mary Tabb Track and field
1983 United States Carl Lewis Track and field United States Martina Navratilova Tennis
1984 United States Carl Lewis (2) Track and field United States Mary Lou Retton Gymnastics
1985 United States Dwight Gooden Major League Baseball United States Nancy Lopez (2) Golf
1986 United States Larry Bird National Basketball Association United States Martina Navratilova (2) Tennis
1987 Canada Ben Johnson Track and field United States Jackie Joyner-Kersee Track and field
1988 United States Orel Hershiser Major League Baseball United States Florence Griffith Joyner Track and field
1989 United States Joe Montana National Football League West Germany Steffi Graf Tennis
1990 United States Joe Montana (2) National Football League United States Beth Daniel Golf
1991 United States Michael Jordan National Basketball Association Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles[1] Tennis
1992 United States Michael Jordan (2) National Basketball Association Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles (2) Tennis
1993 United States Michael Jordan (3) National Basketball Association United States Sheryl Swoopes College basketball
1994 United States George Foreman Boxing United States Bonnie Blair Speed skating
1995 United States Cal Ripken Jr. Major League Baseball United States Rebecca Lobo College basketball
1996 United States Michael Johnson Track and field United States Amy Van Dyken Swimming
1997 United States Tiger Woods Golf Switzerland Martina Hingis Tennis
1998 United States Mark McGwire Major League Baseball South Korea Se Ri Pak Golf
1999 United States Tiger Woods (2) Golf[2] United States U.S. women's soccer team Soccer
2000 United States Tiger Woods (3) Golf[3] United States Marion Jones Track and field
2001 United States Barry Bonds Major League Baseball[4] United States Jennifer Capriati Tennis
2002 United States Lance Armstrong Road bicycle racing[5] United States Serena Williams Tennis
2003 United States Lance Armstrong (2) Road bicycle racing[6] Sweden Annika Sörenstam Golf
2004 United States Lance Armstrong (3) Road bicycle racing[7] Sweden Annika Sörenstam (2) Golf
2005 United States Lance Armstrong (4) Road bicycle racing[8] Sweden Annika Sörenstam (3) Golf
2006 United States Tiger Woods (4) Golf[9] Mexico Lorena Ochoa Golf
2007 United States Tom Brady National Football League[10] Mexico Lorena Ochoa (2) Golf
2008 United States Michael Phelps Swimming[11] United States Candace Parker Women's National Basketball Association
2009 United States Jimmie Johnson[12] NASCAR United States Serena Williams (2) Tennis
2010 United States Drew Brees National Football League[13] United States Lindsey Vonn Skiing
2011 United States Aaron Rodgers[14] National Football League United States Abby Wambach Soccer
2012 United States Michael Phelps (2) Swimming[15] United States Gabby Douglas Gymnastics
2013 United States LeBron James National Basketball Association[16] United States Serena Williams (3) Tennis
2014 United States Madison Bumgarner[17] Major League Baseball United States Mo'ne Davis[18] Little League baseball
2015 United States Stephen Curry National Basketball Association[19] United States Serena Williams (4) Tennis
2016 United States LeBron James (2) National Basketball Association[20] United States Simone Biles Gymnastics
2017 Venezuela José Altuve[21] Major League Baseball United States Katie Ledecky[22] Swimming
2018 United States LeBron James (3)[23] National Basketball Association United States Serena Williams (5)[24] Tennis
2019 United States Kawhi Leonard[25] National Basketball Association United States Simone Biles (2) Gymnastics
2020 United States LeBron James (4) National Basketball Association Japan Naomi Osaka Tennis
2021 Japan Shohei Ohtani[26] Major League Baseball United States Candace Parker (2)[27] Women's National Basketball Association
2022 United States Aaron Judge Major League Baseball United States Katie Ledecky (2) Swimming
2023 Japan Shohei Ohtani (2) Major League Baseball United States Simone Biles (3) Gymnastics

Multiple awards

List of male award winners
Name Sport Awards Years
Lance Armstrong Road bicycle racing 4 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Tiger Woods Golf 4 1997, 1999, 2000, 2006
LeBron James Basketball 4 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Michael Jordan Basketball 3 1991, 1992, 1993
Don Budge Tennis 2 1937, 1938
Sandy Koufax Baseball 2 1963, 1965
Carl Lewis Track and field 2 1983, 1984
Joe Montana American football 2 1989, 1990
Byron Nelson Golf 2 1944, 1945
Shohei Ohtani Baseball 2 2021, 2023
Michael Phelps Swimming 2 2008, 2012
List of female award winners
Name Sport Awards Years
Babe Didrikson Golf/Track and field 6 1932, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1954
Serena Williams Tennis 5 2002, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2018
Chris Evert Tennis 4 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980
Maureen Connolly Tennis 3 1951, 1952, 1953
Annika Sörenstam Golf 3 2003, 2004, 2005
Simone Biles Gymnastics 3 2016, 2019, 2023
Alice Marble Tennis 2 1939, 1940
Althea Gibson Tennis 2 1957, 1958
Wilma Rudolph Track and field 2 1960, 1961
Mickey Wright Golf 2 1963, 1964
Kathy Whitworth Golf 2 1965, 1966
Billie Jean King Tennis 2 1967, 1973
Tracy Austin Golf 2 1979, 1981
Nancy Lopez Golf 2 1978, 1985
Martina Navratilova Tennis 2 1983, 1986
Monica Seles Tennis 2 1991, 1992
Lorena Ochoa Golf 2 2006, 2007
Candace Parker Basketball 2 2008, 2021
Katie Ledecky Swimming 2 2017, 2022

AP Athlete of the Decade

List of award winners
Decade Male Female
Name Sport Name Sport
1960s United States Arnold Palmer Golf None Awarded
1970s United States Jack Nicklaus Golf
1980s Canada Wayne Gretzky Hockey
1990s United States Michael Jordan Basketball
2000s United States Tiger Woods Golf
2010s United States LeBron James Basketball United States Serena Williams Tennis

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.[dead link]
  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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