The official results of the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year poll are below.

Over 35,000 individuals from 158 countries voted online in the three increasingly popular awards sponsored by blueseventy which are meant to honor individuals who (1) best embody the spirit of open water swimming, (2) possesses the sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance that open water swimmers are known for, and (3) have most positively influenced the world of open water swimming.

Petar Stoychev (Bulgaria) – 12,135 votes
Rick Walker (USA) – 1,575 votes
Thomas Lurz (Germany) – 955 votes
Colin Hill (UK) – 891 votes
Rostislav Vitek (Czech Republic) – 709 votes
Scott Rice (New Zealand) – 493 votes
Douglas Woodring (Hong Kong) – 489 votes
Bob Placak (USA) – 483 votes
Flavio Bomio (Switzerland) – 171 votes
Kevin Murphy (UK) – 123 votes

Petar (shown above) was honored at the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Rick Walker (left) was honored as the Americas Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Thomas Lurz was honored as the European Open Water Swimming Men of the Year.

Scott Rice was honored as the Oceania Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Douglas Woodring was honored as the Asian Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association