Vote online for wrestler David Taylor for AAU James E. Sullivan Award now through March 19
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
NEW YORK (March 12, 2024) – Team USA wrestler David Taylor has been named a finalist for the 94th AAU James E. Sullivan Award.
The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similar elite level in the United States. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes the qualities of leadership, citizenship, character, and sportsmanship on and off the playing surface.
Taylor is a three-time World champion, winning his third title in 2023, and was also a 2020 Olympic gold medalist. He pinned his main rival, three-time World champion and Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani of Iran, in the 2023 World Championships finals. Taylor boasts five career World and Olympic medals (3 World golds, 1 Olympic gold, 1 World silver). He is a three-time Pan American champion and four-time U.S. Open champion. Taylor won two NCAA titles for Penn State and was a two-time Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s top college wrestler. He is the nation’s No. 1 ranked athlete at 86 kg heading into the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, April 19-20.
The one-week voting period to determine the winner opens to the public today and closes on Tuesday, March 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The public can vote once a day for their choice.
Vote for David Taylor for the AAU Sullivan Award
There have only been five wrestlers to ever win this prestigious honor: John Smith (1990), Bruce Baumgartner (1995), Rulon Gardner (2000), Kyle Snyder (2017) and Spencer Lee (2019).
The other five finalists are: Caitlin Clark (Basketball), Emery Lehman (Speed Skating), Frederick Richard (Gymnastics), Madisen Skinner (Volleyball), Noah Jaffe (Para Swimming). The six finalists were chosen from a field of 30 semifinalists.
The winner of the 94th AAU Sullivan Award will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the New York Athletic Club.
“We’re proud of our award’s uniqueness in honoring elite athletes regardless of sport or gender,” said AAU President Jo Mirza. “These finalists are not only incredible athletes but incredible people contributing positively to society.”
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