RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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USA Swimming announced nominees for its annual Golden Goggle Awards, which will be Sept. 26 in Denver.
Golden Goggles are largely based on performances at major international meets.
In 2026, that meet was the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, the biggest international meet held in the U.S. in 16 years.
The U.S. topped the medal standings with 50 total and 19 golds at Pan Pacs, a meet for nations outside of Europe.
The public can vote for the awards here through Sept. 6.
2026 Golden Goggle Awards Nominees
Female Athlete of the Year
Katharine Berkoff — Pan Pacs champ in 50m backstroke (American record), 100m back
Kate Douglass — Pan Pacs champ in 50m freestyle (world record); broke American record in 100m free leading off a relay
Katie Ledecky — Pan Pacs champ in 1500m freestyle
Gretchen Walsh — Pan Pacs champ in 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly (broke world record earlier in 2026)
Male Athlete of the Year
Jack Alexy — Pan Pacs champ in 100m freestyle
Luke Hobson — Pan Pacs champ in 200m freestyle
Van Mathias — Pan Pacs champ in 100m breaststroke; broke American records in 50m ,100m breaststrokes earlier in 2026
Quintin McCarty — Pan Pacs champ in 50m backstroke
Coach of the Year
Bob Bowman (University of Texas)
Todd DeSorbo (University of Virginia)
Braden Holloway (North Carolina State)
Ray Looze (Indiana University
Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Josh Brown
Mariah Denigan
Becca Mann
Ivan Puskovitch
Relay Performance of the Year
Mixed 4x100m Medley (Will Modglin, Van Mathias, Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass)
Men's 4x200m Freestyle (Luke Hobson, Aaron Shackell, Patrick Sammon, Gabriel Jett)
Women's 4x100m Freestyle (Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Simone Manuel)
Men's 4x100m Medley (Will Modglin, Van Mathias, Luca Urlando, Jack Alexy)
Breakout Performer of the Year
Van Mathias
Luka Mijatovic
Anna Moesch
McKenzie Siroky
Isabelle Stadden
Van Mathias brings a bonkers swimming comeback story to Pan Pacific Championships
Van Mathias, out of swimming for two years, is now the fastest American breaststroker in history.
Nick Zaccardi ,
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