AAU Sullivan Award winners are inspiring, talented, disciplined athletes.

The AAU Sullivan Award has been given out since 1930 to the nation's best athlete at the Olympic, Collegiate, or similar elite level. Only one finalist will join the illustrious list of previous winners which include: Bobby Jones (1930), Doc Blanchard (1945), Wilma Rudolph (1961), Bill Bradley (1965), Mark Spitz (1970), Bill Walton (1973), Bruce Jenner (1976), Carl Lewis (1981), Joan Benoit (1985), Janet Evans (1989), Peyton Manning (1997), Michael Phelps (2003), Tim Tebow (2007), Shawn Johnson (2008), Missy Franklin (2012), the Ohio State University running back Ezekiel Elliott (2014) and the first surfer to receive the award, Carissa Moore (2021).

Caitlin Clark — 2022, 2023

J.J. Redick — 2005

Carl Lewis — 1981

Carissa Moore — 2021

Michael Phelps — 2003

Shawn Johnson — 2008

Peyton Manning — 1997

  • “I am incredibly humbled. It is an honor to be selected for this prestigious award that elects a student-athlete that excels on the court and off. All the finalists are equally as deserving. It is special to represent the University of Iowa on this stage.”

    Caitlin Clark - 93rd and 94th AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • "Standing in front of you guys tonight, receiving this award is definitely an honor," he said. "Being in a group with athletes who I'm here with today is an amazing accomplishment within itself."

    Michael Phelps - 74th AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • "This award means a lot to me because of how much I've given up to be a amateur. I absolutely love being an amateur athlete, and to be a part of something so special that honors that is amazing."

    Missy Franklin - 83rd AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • “Looking at the former winners, it’s extremely humbling to be up here. Looking forward to the future, I just can’t wait to be a role model to little girls, to anyone that plays sports, especially volleyball.”

    Kathryn Plummer - 89th AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • "It's the biggest honor there is. To be the first female gymnast, it's just amazing. I'm so excited."

    Shawn Johnson — 79th AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • “You are not giving me this trophy for 1938 alone, because I’ve worked for this from the very first race I ever ran up to the one last night. And this means more to me than any trophy I’ve ever received. I can honestly say that the receiving of this trophy is the proudest moment of my life.”

    Don Lash, 9th AAU Sullivan Award Winner

  • "I'm thinking to myself I really don't belong in their company. They win world championships and all I do is score."

    J.J. Redick — 76th AAU Sullivan Award Winner