Florida swimmers Conor Dwyer and Gemma Spofforth made history Friday night as they each received the Ben Hill Griffin Award for 2011. It was the first time since the inception of the award in 1992 that two athletes from the same sport were named the male and female recipients.
Dwyer is the first swimmer to win the men’s award since Ryan Lochte took the honor in 2004, and Spofforth became one of three women to win the award in back-to-back years.
Spofforth said the honor is more meaningful this year because of the repeat win and the attention it brings to swimming. Both expressed their hope that it will cause people to realize the merits of the sport and the amount of effort their teammates put in.
“It’s really great this year to have Conor alongside me, and it’s really great for swimming in general,” Spofforth said.
“It’s good to get it out there how hard we work and that our sport really does mean something,” Dwyer said. “We’re all striving to perform on the college level, but at the same time, we’re trying to do everything we can to compete in the Olympics.”
Dwyer will swim for the chance to compete in London in 2012 under UF and Team USA coach Gregg Troy this summer at the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb. Spofforth, meanwhile, is sponsored by her native Great Britain to train in Gainesville for the Olympic trials.
“It’s really great to be back in the same environment that made me the swimmer that I am and to be back with people who have the same goals and the same attitude that I have,” Spofforth said.
Her time at Florida was full of success, but she said the most memorable victory was the team’s first-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships.
But Spofforth said her work out of the pool was just as important. She spent most of her volunteer time at the Alachua County Crisis Center, also working with Climb for Cancer Sports Camp and Gator Tracks, delivering sneakers to the underprivileged.
Dwyer also worked with Gator Tracks during his time at Florida and received countless swimming accolades, including 2010 NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year and the past two Southeastern Conference Male Swimmer of the Year awards. But of all his titles and honors, Dwyer said the Ben Hill Griffin Award is his most memorable one.
“It’s an honor because there are so many great athletes here at UF, so to be named the top one is kind of a shock,” he said. “I’m just happy to represent the swim team the best I can.”
