By Gary Anderson

January 6 - Ryan Lochte of the United States has been named as a FINA Athlete of the Year for a third time in 2013 ©AFP/Getty ImagesSwimmers Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky, along with high diver Cesilie Carlton of the United States, are among the 11 names revealed as the 2013 Athletes of the Year by the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

Five-time Olympic champion Lochte, named FINA Athlete of the Year in 2010 and 2011, completed another impressive year in the pool with the highlight being his three gold medals at the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona last summer.

The 29-year-old took top honours in the 200 metres backstroke, 200m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle events, while also claiming a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle.

Compatriot Ledecky came away from Barcelona with four world titles in the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 4x200m freestyle competitions, while also setting world record times in the 800m and 1500m in the process.

Ledecky, who won 800m freestyle gold at London 2012, has been named as swimmer of the year along with Lochte, as FINA recognises the best performers across its six disciplines, which also include diving, open water swimming, synchronised swimming, water polo and high diving, included on the list for the first time.

High diver Carlton completes the trio of US athletes selected as she has been awarded the female award in the category following her gold medal in Barcelona.

Ceselie Carlton of the US is one of three Americans on the 2013 FINA Athlete of the Year list after taking high diving gold at last year's World Championships ©AFP/Getty ImagesCeselie Carlton of the US is one of three Americans on the 2013 FINA Athlete of the Year list after taking high diving gold at last year's World Championships ©AFP/Getty Images
















































Colombia's Orlando Duque has been selected as the men's high-diving athlete of the year after claiming the inaugural world title in Catalonia.

All of the Athletes of the Year selected for 2013 secured at least one gold medal at last year's World Championships, and China is the only other country with more than one athlete on the list.

Both Chinese athletes come in the diving discipline with Beijing 2008 gold medal winner He Chong claiming world titles in the men's individual and synchronised three metre springboard competitions, while also finishing second overall in the World Cup series standings.

Compatriot and London 2012 champion Zi He finished the World Cup series in top spot in the women's 3m springboard class and also claimed two World Championship crowns in Barcelona in the 1m and 3m individual events.

The most valuable players (MVPs) from the men's and women's water polo competitions in Barcelona are also on the list.

Hungary's Denes Varga led his side to a third World Championship title with victory over Montenegro in the Barcelona final, while also finishing as runners-up in the 2013 World League.

Jennifer Paraja was the star for Spain as they delighted the home fans with victory over Australia in the women's final.

Thomas Lurz celebrates after winning one of two gold medals at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona ©Getty ImagesThomas Lurz celebrates after winning one of two gold medals at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona ©Getty Images


























Another former FINA Athlete of the Year, Germany's Thomas Lurz, is selected again in the men's open water swimming category.

The London 2012 silver medallist won world titles in the 25 kilometres and team events in 2013, as well as being crowned champion at the 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup.

The 34-year-old also added World Championship silver in the 10km and bronze in the 5km events.

Brazilian Poliana Okimoto was the dominant force in the open water on the women's side taking World Championship gold in the 10km and securing silver in the 5km and team bronze.

FINA synchronised swimming athlete of the year in 2011, double Olympic champion Svetlana Romanshina of Russia has been selected again for 2013 after she picked up four world titles in the solo free, solo technical, duet free and duet technical categories, to make it an impressive 16 career world titles.

The list of 2013 Athletes of the Year were chosen by a panel of 674 judges coming from the FINA National Federations, FINA Committees, media, partners and experts in aquatic sports.

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