James Magnussen Named Australian Swimmer of the Year

At the official Swimming Australia awards ceremony, James Magnussen earned four big awards, including the Swimmer of the Year honor. That win breaks a streak of 8-straight years of Queensland swimmers taking the award, as Magnussen hails from New South Wales.

Magnussen made a ripple this summer at the World Championships when he destroyed Pieter van den Hoogenband’s textile-best in the 100 free with a 47.49 relay leadoff split. That carried the Australians the victory in the 400 free relay. He would go on to win the individual World Championship in 47.63 to give the Australians their only two gold medals at a meet where the country largely struggled.

That 400 free relay also earned the title of “Speedo Golden Moment,” along with Eamon Sullivan, Matt Targett, and Matthew Abood.

Magnussen also took home two other Swimmer of the Year Award – both the ‘Peoples’ Choice Award’ and the “Swimmers’ Choice Award,’ which are voted on by the fans and fellow athletes, respectively.

Other big winners were Kenneth To taking home the ‘Discovery Award’ (the equivalent of the breakout swimmer of the year), and Melissa Gorman winning ‘Open Water Swimmer of the Year’.

Full award winners listed below.

2011 Swimmer of the Year Award Winners

Swimmer of the Year Award – James Magnussen
Swisse People’s Choice Award – James Magnussen
Swimmers’ Swimmer Award – James Magnussen
Speedo Golden Moment – James Magnussen, Eamon Sullivan, Matt Targett, Matt Abood Multi Class Swimmer of the Year – Blake Cochrane
Open Water Swimmer of the Year – Melissa Gorman
Media Award – Paul Cochrane (Network Ten)
Coach of the Year – Brant Best
Singapore Airlines Short Course Swimmer of the Year – Felicity Galvez
Australian Sports Commission Discovery of the Year – Kenneth To
Multi Class Coach of the Year – Steve Hadler
Open Water Coach of the Year – Ken Wood
The Age Group Coach of the Year – Craig Jackson
Club of the Year – Caribeae Swimming Club Inc
Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year – Janice Smith and Frankston Peninsula