Katie Ledecky Named USOC Sportswoman of the Year

American swimmer Katie Ledecky has been named as the 2013 USOC Sportswoman of the Year on Thursday after breaking World Records in the 1500 and 800 meter free at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

She picked up a third gold, in a new American Record (and the second-fastest swim ever) going 3:59.82 in the 400 free, and was a part of the gold-medal winning American 800 free relay.

Ledecky became the second woman in history to sweep those three titles in the 7 long course World Championships where they’ve existed (Hannah Stockbauer won all three in, coincidentally, Barcelona a decade earlier).

She will be honored during a reception in New York on October 29th, which marks 100 days until the Sochi Olympics.

Previous swimmers to win the award include

• 1974 – Shirley Babashoff
• 1975 – Kathy Heddy
• 1978 – Tracy Caulkins
• 1979 – Cynthia “Sippy” Woodhead
• 1984 – Tracy Caulkins
• 1989 – Janet Evans
• 1996 – Amy van Dyken
• 1999 – Jenny thompson
• 2005 – Katie Hoff
• 2007 – Katie Hoff
• 2008 – Natalie Coughlin (tie with Nastia Liukin).

Skiier Ted Ligety won the Sportsman of the Year award, Raymond Martin, a track & field athlete, won the Paralympic Sportsman of the Year, and Monica Bascio won the Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year.

Swimmers who have won these other awards in the past:

Sportsman of the Year

• 1976 – John Naber
• 1986 – Matt Biondi
• 1988 – Matt Biondi
• 1992 – Pablo Morales
• 2004 – Michael Phelps
• 2008 – Michael Phelps
• 2011-2012 – Michael Phelps

Paralympian of the Year

• 2004 – Erin Popovich
• 2006 – Jessica Long
• 2008 – Erin Popovich

Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year (Split in 2009)

• 2011-2012 – Jessica Long