Lendeborg, Sims Named U-M Athletes of the Year
6/23/2026 1:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Swimming & Diving
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Athletics Department announced Tuesday (June 23) that Yaxel Lendeborg (men's basketball) and Bella Sims (women's swimming and diving) have been named the 2025-26 U-M Athletes of the Year.
Lendeborg is the third men's basketball player to earn the honor and the first since 1993. Sims is the seventh different women's swimmer to be named Athlete of the Year and the first since 2020.
Both student-athletes are eligible to be named Big Ten Conference Athletes of the Year, the winners of which are determined by a media vote. The University of Michigan Athlete of the Year Award was first presented in 1982.
Yaxel Lendeborg (Men's Basketball)
Lendeborg is the department's male honoree after leading Michigan to the 2026 NCAA and Big Ten championships.
Lendeborg made the most of his one season in Ann Arbor, leading Michigan to one of the greatest campaigns in program history. After arriving as one of the nation's most sought-after transfers, he immediately embraced the challenge of helping return the Wolverines to national prominence and became the centerpiece of a team that won the Big Ten championship by four games, reached the Final Four and ultimately captured U-M's first national championship in 37 years.
A consensus first-team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year and NCAA Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting nearly 59 percent from the field. His versatility made him one of the nation's most complete players, impacting games as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker and defender while consistently delivering in the biggest moments throughout Michigan's championship run.
Beyond the numbers and accolades, Lendeborg's leadership, toughness and competitive spirit helped define the identity of a championship team. In just one season, he etched his name into Michigan basketball history, leaving Ann Arbor as one of the most impactful players ever to wear the maize and blue.
Bella Sims (Women's Swimming and Diving)
Sims is the department's women's athlete of the year after capturing an individual NCAA championship and leading Michigan to its 18th Big Ten championship in program history.
Sims won Michigan's first NCAA title in any event since 2021, capturing the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 3:58.08. The win is part of her seven first-team All-America citations in 2026.
A first-year Wolverine, Sims was honored by the conference as the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and Swimmer of the Championships. Sims dominated the conference championships, winning both IM events, the first Wolverine to accomplish the feat since Justine Mueller in 2005, and helping the Wolverines to two relay gold medals against the best in the Big Ten.
Sims holds three school records and two Big Ten records, setting new program marks in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and the 400-yard IM and breaking the conference records in the 100 back 400 IM.
