Husker and Bobby Fink named Golden Goggle Athletes of the Year

On November 31 local time, the U.S. swimming team celebrated their remarkable achievement of winning 28 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Indianapolis, Indiana. Torri Huske and Bobby Finke were named the 2024 Golden Goggles Athletes of the Year. Indianapolis also served as the host city for this year’s Olympic trials held inside the state’s iconic football stadium.

Bobby Finke won the gold medal in the men’s 1500m freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the only U.S. male swimmer to claim an individual gold at the Paris Games—and he set a new world record of 14:30.67. He also became the fifth athlete ever to earn multiple Olympic gold medals in the 1500m freestyle event. Finke’s performance was named the Men’s Swim Performance of the Year.

This is Fink's second time winning the Gold Goggles Award for Male Athlete of the Year in three years—his previous victory was in 2022.

“The competition itself was incredibly fun,” Fink said Saturday night at the awards ceremony. “This year’s Olympics truly carry immense significance. The world is moving faster than ever, so being here to represent our country is an absolute honor.” Fink admitted that throughout the race, he couldn’t shake the fact that none of the U.S. men’s swimming team had managed to win a single individual gold medal—yet that very thought kept pushing him forward.

Huske won her first Golden Goggles Award for Female Athlete of the Year, marking the first time since 2019 that Ledecky didn’t claim the honor—Ledecky has claimed the award nine times since 2013.

Huske won the gold medal in the women’s 100m butterfly at the 2024 Paris Olympics, claimed silver in the 100m freestyle, and secured relay gold medals in both the mixed 4x100m medley and the women’s 4x100m medley. Huske’s performance in the women’s 100m butterfly was also named the best event of the competition.

“I didn’t come here alone,” Huske said at the ceremony. “I want to thank everyone at Stanford University, as well as the girls who swim alongside me every day. They’re the reason I’m where I am today—they’ve helped me grow and become a better athlete. Thanks, Greg (referring to her coach). I’ve always trusted you, and you’ve made this whole journey so effortless. And a huge thank you to USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation for making this summer absolutely seamless, allowing swimmers like me to focus solely on performing in the pool—without having to worry about anything else behind the scenes.”

Husker won the 100m butterfly at the Paris Olympics, but finished fourth at the Tokyo Games three years ago and placed third at the World Championships the year before.

Huske said, "Last time, I missed the podium by just 1/100 of a second." "It was devastating, but I actually think it motivated me to push even harder and become better—just like last year. Last summer was incredibly tough for me. It’s been an incredibly challenging journey, but I’ve had an amazing support system by my side."

“I’d like to thank my family, all my friends, the incredible talents at Stanford University, my teammates, and my coaches. They’re pushing me forward every single day. And of course, I have the entire U.S. team behind me—I’m competing right beside Gretchen, so I’ve got plenty of amazing things ahead!”

Gretchen Walsh has been named the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Walsh was part of the teams that won gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay and the women’s 4x100m medley relay. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Walsh shared: "My swimming journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s moments like these—and especially last summer—that make all the setbacks worthwhile." Earlier this year, Walsh set a world record in the 100m butterfly during the Olympic trials, earning her first-ever international individual medal in Paris. She also finished fourth in the 50m freestyle, eighth in the 100m freestyle, and claimed a silver medal as part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team.

Walsh, Hossack, world-record holder Regan Smith, and Lilly King once again came together to claim the annual Best Relay Award after clinching the women’s 4x100m medley gold medal—and breaking the world record that had stood since 2019. On the final night of swimming at the Paris Olympics, the U.S. team dominated the race, narrowly defeating Australia by nearly four seconds to secure the victory.

Virginia University head coach Todd DeSorbo has been named Coach of the Year, as he leads the women’s Olympic team. DeSorbo guided Olympic gold medalist Kate Douglass to victory in the 200-meter breaststroke, while Walsh clinched a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly. His squad also includes Alex Walsh and Emma Weber, both of whom earned spots on the Olympic roster.

"At the ceremony, Desobry said, 'It’s my dream come true to be part of the Olympic team’s coaching staff.' 'Without these athletes, none of us would be here— they’re absolutely incredible individuals. They’ve made my dream a reality, and they’re the very reason I’m here.'"

Led by Desso, the Virginia team has consistently prioritized analysis and fast-paced competition, dramatically dominating their rivals to clinch four consecutive NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championships—reshaping the landscape of American swimming.

Twenty-six-year-old Paige Madden, a member of Virginia’s first-ever national championship team in 2021, has been named the recipient of the Perseverance Award. She clinched a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle event in Paris, propelling herself to fourth place in the all-time rankings. Madden is coached by Bob Bowman and Eric Pothier.

“I truly believe everyone here holds onto something meaningful in their lives,” Marden said during the ceremony. “We all go through tough times, but I think the most important thing is that we lean on each other—something I’ve come to realize over the past few years. Last year, I actually could have walked away, but I’m deeply passionate about this sport. Whether or not I win a medal or make it onto the Olympic team, I love every single day—and even embrace the challenges. Of course, there will always be ups and downs. There was a point when I lost my passion for dealing with everyday struggles, but I’ve worked hard to get back on track.”

Katie Grimes finished 15th in the 10km race at the Paris Olympics and was named Fran Crippen Open Water Swimmer of the Year for the second time. Grimes became the first American to qualify for this year’s Olympics, following her spot at last year’s World Championships. At 18 years old, she’ll join the DeSorbo team at the University of Virginia in January 2025—just days after her 19th birthday.

Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines has been honored with the Annual Alumni Award, which recognizes national team alumni who continue to give back to the sport after retiring. Dubbed the "Voice of Swimming," Gaines has served as the swimming commentator for every Olympic Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics—and he’ll retire after the 2028 Los Angeles Games. At the awards ceremony, the 17-year-old prodigy who first made waves in competitive swimming shared, "It’s been 20 years since I first stepped onto this stage, and while I’ve always posed for photos with the trophy, I never actually received one myself." He added proudly, "I’m incredibly honored to accept it, even though it came as a complete surprise!"