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AAU Sullivan Award Press Releases SARAH HUGHES RECEIVES AAU SULLIVAN AWARD Named the 2002 Top Amateur Athlete during the 73rd AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award Presentation at New York Athletic Club NEW YORK - (March 18, 2003) - The 73rd Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation, was presented to figure skater Sarah Hughes by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) during a formal awards presentation at the New York Athletic Club Tuesday evening. Hughes, becomes the third figure skater to receive this honor following last year's winner Michelle Kwan. She received the honor presented by the 1949 recipient of the AAU Sullivan and the evening's Master of Ceremony, Dick Button. Hughes faced stiff competition to receive this honor. Natalie Coughlin (swimming), Apolo Anton Ohno (short track speedskating), Cael Sanderson (wrestling) and Chris Waddell (paralympic skiing and track and field) were also finalists. All five athletes were selected based on their qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism in the year 2002. "The AAU is proud and excited to be honoring five outstanding individuals who have admirably represented themselves, their country, and their communities," said Louis Stout, Chair of the AAU Sullivan Committee. "To be considered for the AAU Sullivan Award is indeed a tremendous achievement. To be honoring these athletes at the New York Athletic Club, in the spot where the AAU was founded, makes the AAU Sullivan Award for 2002 a unique and fitting experience." Hughes, claimed the Olympic gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She became the first person in figure skating history to rebound from fourth place to win an Olympic gold medal since the short program-free skate scoring system was introduced at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, all while skating one of the most technically demanding programs ever attempted at an Olympic ladies competition. Her skate included two clean triple-triple combinations (triple Salchow/triple loop and triple toe/triple loop). "In the many years that I have had the privilege of being involved with the AAU," stated AAU President Bobby Dodd, "I think that this is one of the most exciting years for this presentation, considering the level of competition that each of these athletes are involved in." Considered the "Oscar" of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to prominent athletes of our time including last year's recipient, Michelle Kwan. Others include: Chamique Holdsclaw (1998), Peyton Manning (1997), William "Bill" Bradley (1965), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984), the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988) and the first recipient, the late, great golfer Robert Jones. The AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to the founder and past president of the AAU, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. A 700-member group including the AAU board of directors, the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors, the AAU Sullivan Committee, past Sullivan Award winners, and select members of the sports media vote on the winner. The AAU Sullivan Award recipient receives a replica of the original trophy that depicts the figure of a runner carrying a laurel branch mounted on a black pedestal. Each of the five finalists receives a medallion depicting the AAU Sullivan Trophy. The AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award will be housed permanently in the Hall of Fame of the New York Athletic Club. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for all ages. Nearly 500,000 participants and over 50,000 volunteers share our philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever." Divided into 58 distinct associations, the AAU sanctions more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships and over 10,000 local events across the United States annually. Related Stories:
CONTACT: Melissa Wilson |
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U.S. Olympic Team eNewsletter 3/18/03
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