Oct. 19, 2009

BERKELEY - Former California star Dana Vollmer was nominated for two Golden Goggle Awards, which will be presented on Nov. 22, the USA Swimming Foundation announced last week. The 2009 NCAA Swimmer of the Year is vying for the mantle of Female Athlete of the Year and for the Perseverance Award. Vollmer rebounded from not earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team to produce an outstanding final collegiate season and to claim success at the international level, particularly at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.

The star-studded Golden Goggle Awards gala celebrates the accomplishments of top American swimmers in 2009. The event will take place at the Beverly Hilton and will feature the 2009 U.S. World Championship swim team.

This year's event will be hosted by Emmy-nominated sports broadcaster Dan Hicks and will mix entertainment industry celebrities with the top swimming stars in the United States. A total of eight Golden Goggle awards will be presented this year.

Fans can vote for the winners online at www.GoldenGoggles.com. Online voting began on Oct. 16 and will continue through Nov. 18.

The Granbury, Texas, product also claimed a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the World Championships, posting a time of 1:55.64, and placed fifth in the finals of the 100 free (personal-record 53.30) and 100 fly (American- and personal-record 56.94). Vollmer tied her 200-free PR with a time of 1:55.29 to lead off the U.S. 4x200-free relay, which ultimately posted an American-record 7:42.56 to place second. She initially set that 200-free PR by winning her 200-free semifinal in what was then an American-record time.

Vollmer also won the 100 and 200 frees and finished second in the 100 butterfly in the 2009 ConocoPhillips National Championships and World Championship Trials in early July in Indianapolis.

A nominee for a 2009 ESPY Award for Best Female Collegiate Athlete, Vollmer claimed the 2009 Honda Sports Award for Swimming as well as NCAA and Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year honors after completing a stellar senior season last March for Cal. She won five titles (100- and 200-yard freestyles, 400- and 800-yard free relays, and the team championship) at the 2009 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.