Gregg Troy and Ryan Lochte Receive Honors at 2011 Golden Goggle Awards
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Head Coach Gregg Troy, and Gator great Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) both took home top honors Sunday night at the eighth annual USA Swimming Foundation Golden Goggle Awards. Troy was awarded the Coach of the Year Award, while Lochte earned the Male Athlete of the Year and Race of the Year award at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. USA Swimming, which hosts the awards show also nominated Florida's Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.) for Female Athlete of the Year and the Perseverance Award.
The event celebrated the accomplishments of the 2011 FINA World Championship Team that competed in Shanghai, China this July. The U.S. Team turned in the top performance at the meet as it earned the Championship Trophy and took home a total of 31 medals – including 17 gold, five silver and nine bronze pieces of hardware.
Troy was presented with the Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year for his work with the University of Florida, Gator Swim Club and efforts with the U.S. Men's Team at the 2011 FINA World Championships – where five Florida Gator swimmers appeared on the National Team. As an assistant coach for the U.S. men's team in Shanghai, China, Troy helped lead the team to the top finish on the world stage where he coached Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay as well as Gators Beisel, Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.) and Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) to strong performances at the World Championships.
The trip included the opportunity for the 2011 U.S. Olympic Men's Head Coach to see Beisel clinch the first World Championship crown of her young career when she stopped the clock at 4:31.78 in the 400m individual medley for gold.
“It's always humbling to be in this situation because all the coaches nominated are fantastic individuals who know how to challenge their athletes and are tremendous,” explained Troy upon accepting his award. “I'm sure they would all feel the same way I do right now. There's no one that you can thank more than the athletes that you work with. They are all tremendous individuals. If it wasn't for their dedication, they're commitment to what they do – there is no way that we could be successful.”
To watch head coach Gregg Troy's Coach of the Year acceptance speech, please click here.
Lochte won the Male Athlete of the Year and Male Race of the Year award with his stellar performance at the World Championships. The Olympic gold medalist earned six medals at the meet, earning titles in the 200m free, 400m and 200m IM, 200m back and as a part of the 4x200 free relay – the lone swimmer at the meet to claim four individual titles. He also took home bronze in the 4x100m free relay.
Lochte, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, claimed the Male Race of the Year award with his performance in the 200m back at the FINA World Championships. With his lightning speed finish in Shanghai, Lochte became the first swimmer to break a long course world record since the ban of polyurethane swim suits at the end of 2009.
“First off, I would really like to say thank you to my coach Gregg Troy,” Lochte told to an audience of onlookers and fellow swimming standouts. “He's been there through everything. He has helped me out through everything – injuries, and just everything – I wouldn't have been able to do this without him.”
Lochte finished his stellar summer performance ranked No. 1 in the world in four separate, individual races.
“To my family, I love you. Everyone has just helped me out so much, I definitely dedicate this to my family, coach and everyone else who has been there for me,” said Lochte at the conclusion of his Male Athlete of the Year speech.
To watch Ryan Lochte's Male Athlete of the Year acceptance speech, please click here.
To watch Ryan Lochte's Race of the Year acceptance speech, please click here.
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