Piersol, Hoff swimmers of year; Crocker honored

NEW YORK – Aaron Peirsol and Katie Hoff were selected athletes of the year Monday night at the Golden Goggle Awards, USA Swimming’s annual gala honoring the top swimming performances of 2005.

Portland native Ian Crocker was honored for the male performance of the year, his world-record swim in the 100 butterfly at the world championships. Crocker lowered his own world record by almost four-tenths of a second and defeated rival Michael Phelps.

Peirsol, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, captured the top male award after winning three golds at the world championships in Montreal and setting two world records during the year.

The 16-year-old Hoff was selected the top female swimmer. Like Peirsol, she won three golds at the world championships, one as a member of the 800-meter freestyle relay team that was honored for the top relay performance of 2005.

Two other teenagers received awards as well. Eighteen-year-old Jessica Hardy won for breakout performance, while 17-year-old Kate Ziegler’s world championship in the 1,500 freestyle was named best female swim of the year.

Eddie Reese of the University of Texas received his second straight coach of the year award. The Longhorns accounted for five individual gold medals and a silver at the world championships.

Brendan Hansen received the perseverance award for winning two breaststroke gold medals at the world championships, including a victory over Japanese nemesis Kosuke Kitajima in the 100. Kitajima defeated Hansen in both events at the 2004 Olympics.

Honored along with Hoff from the 800 free relay team were Natalie Coughlin, Whitney Myers and Kaitlin Sandeno.

Phelps, the star of the Athens Olympics, did not win in any category at this year’s Golden Goggles, even though he went home from the world championships with six medals.