Ashley Twichell Wall, Maritza Correia McClendon Honored By USA Swimming (Full List of Winners)
A pair of U.S. Olympic swimmers received recognition Friday at the USA Swimming Workshop Award Luncheon, with Ashley Twichell Wall winning the Athletes Distinguished Service Award and Maritza Correia McClendon taking home the organization’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award.
Twichell Wall, 35, represented the U.S. in open water at the Tokyo Olympics after a decorated career racing on the international level that included world titles in 2011 and 2017. After giving birth to her first child, Twichell returned to swimming and has excelled, qualifying for the finals in the 800 and 1500 free at this year’s Trials while continuing to swim in major open water races.
Correia McClendon, the first African American woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic team, has long been active in diversity initiatives in the sport. She helped the American women win silver in the 400 free relay at the 2004 Olympic Games, handling a leg on the prelims squad.
A total five honors were handed out under the category of impacting communities: the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award, the Pinnacle Award for 2023 and 2024, Athletes Distinguished Service Award, Athletes Appreciation Award and Trischa L. Zorn Award. For saving lives, the Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation Award was given out, and there were three awards for building champions: the James (Jimi) Raymond Flowers Coach of the Year Award, the Developmental Coach of the Year Award and Open Water Achievement Award.
Finally, legendary Texas men’s coach Eddie Reese received the USA Swimming award at the conclusion of his lengthy career guiding swimmers to NCAA titles and onto international teams.
Below is the full list of USA Swimming’s honorees.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: Maritza Correia McClendon
- 2023 Pinnacle Award: Marianne Walling
- 2024 Pinnacle Award: Jamie Cahn
- Athletes Distinguished Service Award: Ashley Twichell
- Athlete Appreciation Award: Derek Paul
- Trischa L. Zorn Award: Anastasia Pagonis
- Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation Award: Mike Seip
- James (Jimi) Raymond Flowers Coach of the Year Award: Jamal Hill
- Developmental Coach of the Year Award: Chris Plumb
- Open Water Achievement Award: Mark McCaw
- USA Swimming Award: Eddie Reese