Overview
The Significance
Older than The Heisman (1935), the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding athlete at the Olympic, Collegiate, or similar elite level in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character as well.
Criteria
The AAU Sullivan Award annually recognizes the outstanding athlete whose athletic accomplishments are complemented by qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship. Winners achieve great success on a national and/or international stage through competition in collegiate athletics, Olympic pursuit or similar high-profile competitions. Presented by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the AAU Sullivan Award symbolizes the fostering of a community of respected athletes whose example provides a great model to our AAU athletes.
Gussie Crawford
Award
The Significance
The AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented annually at the AAU Sullivan Award ceremony, was established to honor Gussie Crawford, voted the first female president of AAU, as a trailblazer in amateur sports. The award is intended to recognize those athletes whose efforts, both on and off the playing surface, on the national or international stage, have paved the way for great change in amateur sports.
First Recipient:
Jesse Owens
More than 80 years after bringing home four Olympic gold medals for Team USA in the 1936 Berlin Games, legendary track and field athlete Jesse Owens was honored posthumously with the inaugural AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award.
Second Recipient:
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe, legendary multi-sport athlete took home the honors for his contributions to amateur sports. The award was accepted in a remote video presentation by his son Bill Thorpe and on-site by his reat-grandson and great-great grandson at a ceremony during the presentation of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award Ceremony, April 17, 2018 at the New York Athletic Club.
Third Recipient:
Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias
Multi-sport star Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was announced as the recipient of the 3rd AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony on April 16 at the New York Athletic Club. W.L. Pate, President of Babe’s Foundation accepted the award on her behalf.
Fourth Recipient:
Muhammad Ali
The legendary boxer and well-known philanthropist Muhammad Ali was announced as the recipient of the 4th AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the Detroit Athletic Club. Khaliah Ali Wertheimer accepted the award virtually on behalf of her father. Special guest Olympic track and Field legend, Jackie Joyner Kersee joined the ceremony virtually.