TRACK & FIELD NEWS has been choosing a U.S. Men’s Athlete Of The Year since 1959. Winning back-to-back titles isn’t uncommon, having been accomplished by Bob Hayes (1963–64), Jim Ryun (1966–67), Edwin Moses (1977–78), Carl Lewis (1981–84 for 4 straight), Lewis again (1987–88), Michael Johnson (1993–96 for 4 straight) & Ashton Eaton (2015–16).
Overall, 4 athletes have won more than twice: Lewis 7, Johnson 6, Moses & Eaton 3.
The all-time men’s winners, with the event(s) in which they made the World Rankings that year (if the events are out of normal event order, it reflects the existence of a “primary” discipline):
1950s | ||
1959 | Ray Norton (San José State) | 100, 200 |
1960s | ||
1960 | Rafer Johnson (Southern California Striders) | Decathlon |
1961 | Ralph Boston (Southern California Striders) | Long Jump, 110 Hurdles |
1962 | Jim Beatty (Los Angeles TC) | 1500/Mile |
1963 | Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) | 100, 200 |
1964 | Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) | 100, 200 |
1965 | Randy Matson (Texas A&M) | Shot, Discus |
1966 | Jim Ryun (Kansas) | 800, 1500/Mile |
1967 | Jim Ryun (Kansas) | 1500/Mile |
1968 | Bob Beamon (Houston Striders) | Long Jump |
1969 | Bill Toomey (Southern California Striders) | Decathlon |
1970s | ||
1970 | Randy Matson (Texas Striders) | Shot |
1971 | Rod Milburn (Southern U) | 110 Hurdles |
1972 | Frank Shorter (Florida TC) | Marathon, 10,000, |
1973 | Al Feuerbach (Pacific Coast Club) | Shot |
1974 | Rick Wohlhuter (University Of Chicago TC) | 800, 1500/Mile |
1975 | Brian Oldfield (International Track Association) | Shot |
1976 | Bruce Jenner (San José Stars) | Decathlon |
1977 | Edwin Moses (Morehouse) | 400 Hurdles |
1978 | Edwin Moses (Athletes In Action) | 400 Hurdles |
1979 | Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland) | 110 Hurdles |
1980s | ||
1980 | Edwin Moses (adidas) | 400 Hurdles |
1981 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, Long Jump |
1982 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
1983 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
1984 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
1985 | Willie Banks (Los Angeles TC) | Triple Jump |
1986 | Mike Conley (Tyson) | Long Jump, Triple Jump |
1987 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
1988 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
1989 | Roger Kingdom (adidas) | 110 Hurdles |
1990s | ||
1990 | Michael Johnson (Baylor) | 200, 400 |
1991 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, Long Jump |
1992 | Kevin Young (Foot Locker AC) | 400 Hurdles |
1993 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
1994 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
1995 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
1996 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
1997 | Allen Johnson (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
1998 | John Godina (Reebok Bruin TC) | Shot, Discus |
1999 | Maurice Greene (Nike) | 100, 200 |
2000s | ||
2000 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
2001 | Maurice Greene (Nike) | 100 |
2002 | Khalid Khannouchi (New Balance) | Marathon |
2003 | Allen Johnson (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
2004 | Dwight Phillips (Nike) | Long Jump |
2005 | Justin Gatlin (Nike) | 100, 200 |
2006 | Jeremy Wariner (adidas) | 400 |
2007 | Tyson Gay (adidas) | 100, 200 |
2008 | Bryan Clay (Nike) | Decathlon |
2009 | Tyson Gay (adidas) | 100, 200 |
2010s | ||
2010 | David Oliver (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
2011 | Trey Hardee (Nike) | Decathlon |
2012 | Ashton Eaton (Nike) | Decathlon |
2013 | LaShawn Merritt (Nike) | 400 |
2014 | Justin Gatlin (Nike) | 100, 200 |
2015 | Ashton Eaton (Oregon TC) | Decathlon |
2016 | Ashton Eaton (Oregon TC) | Decathlon |
2017 | Sam Kendricks (Nike) | Pole Vault |
2018 | Noah Lyles (adidas) | 100, 200 |
2019 | Noah Lyles (adidas) | 100, 200 |