Ryan Lochte Named USA 2010 Swimming Swimmer of the Year

Ryan Lochte was named USA Swimming's 2010 Swimmer of the Year at the annual U.S. Aquatic Sports Awards Banquet Saturday. The two-time Olympian won six gold medals at the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships, and was the high-point winner at the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships. The award was the second in two days for Lochte, who won the ConocoPhillips Performance Award on Friday.

USA Swimming presented its most prestigious award, the USA Swimming Award, to backstroke legend and safety activist Adolph Kiefer. The 1936 Olympian has dedicated much of his life to promoting safety, health and fitness. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Kiefer led an effort to improve swimming instruction in the Navy and is estimated to have taught 13,000 sailors to swim. An outspoken proponent of learn-to-swim and aquatic safety, his company, Kiefer & Associates, has been a long-time seller of hundreds of safety products. The International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee has sat on three presidents' Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Also a successful inventor, Kiefer holds 12 patents, including one for the non-turbulent racing lane line. Kiefer has been active in USA Swimming in the area of safety, and even has an annual award named after him, the "Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation Award."