NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Noah Millard of the Yale men's swimming and diving team is the recipient of the 2026 William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale.
The Mallory Award is presented to the senior man who on the field of play and in life at Yale best represents the highest ideals of American sportsmanship and Yale tradition.
The award was conferred on Sunday, May 17, as part of Class Day, a Yale College celebration and tradition that dates to the 19th century.
Millard, a four-time All-American, holds three Ivy League records and six Yale records. He competed in the NCAA Championships for three years. His performances rank him among the elite in the sport of swimming, with times that place him as the 10th fastest all-time in the 500 freestyle, 17th fastest all-time in the 1000 freestyle and 24th fastest all-time in the 1650 freestyle.
Millard's leadership has been instrumental in Yale's recent success, which included a 20th place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2025 and a runner-up finish at the 2026 Ivy League Championships -- Yale's best finish at Ivies since winning the meet in 1972.
Millard was the seventh swimmer all-time to win the 500 freestyle three times at the Ivy Championships; he owns the top three championship times in league history in that event. He won six individual Ivy League titles and was a part of two relay championship finishes, thus earning first team All-Ivy League honors eight times. He also earned five Ivy runner-up finishes as an individual and six in relay events, thus earning 11 second team All-Ivy League honors. Millard was co-winner of the Phil Moriarty High Point Swimmer of the Meet in 2023. This past year he was the recipient of the Harold S. Ulen Career High Point Swimmer Award, finishing his Ivy League Championships career with 352 points.
Millard holds individual team records in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle and 1650 freestyle. He also holds individual Kiphuth pool records in the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle and 1650 freestyle.
"Beyond his individual accolades, Noah has played a crucial role in fostering a championship mindset within the team," said Jim Henry, Yale's Robert J.H. Kiphuth Coach of Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving. "His unwavering positivity, work ethic, and daily commitment have inspired his teammates and created a culture of excellence. Noah Millard is not just an outstanding athlete; he is a transformative leader who embodies the spirit of Yale Athletics. His contributions will resonate for years to come."
This past season Millard earned honorable mention All-America honors in both the 500 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle. He earned first team All-Ivy honors in the 500 freestyle at the Ivy League Championships, setting a pool record with an NCAA A cut time of 4:10.19. He also had a pair of runner-up finishes individually and a pair of runner-up finishes as part of a relay at the Ivy Championships.
As a junior Millard had a fourth-place finish in the 1650 freestyle in a team record time of 14:28.43 at the NCAA Championships, earning first team All-America honors. He also placed ninth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:08.69, earning honorable mention All-America honors in that event. He had a performance to remember in the 500 freestyle at the Ivy League Championships, winning gold in a pool record, team record and NCAA A cut time of 4:07.68. That is the fastest time in league history in that event.
As a sophomore, Millard competed in three events at the NCAA Championships. He was co-winner of the Phil Moriarty High Point Swimmer of the Meet Award at the Ivy League Championships, where he won three events – including the 500 freestyle in a league record time of 4:10.62.
Millard earned a pair of second team All-Ivy honors in his first season.
In addition to his accomplishments in the pool and in the classroom, Millard has also been active in various community service initiatives through the United Way. He has volunteered in neighborhood gardens, prepared meals for families in need and volunteered at soup kitchens.
Additionally, through Yale's Swim New Haven Program, Millard has dedicated his time each semester at Yale to providing free swim lessons and drowning prevention classes for children in the greater New Haven area. This initiative not only promotes water safety but also empowers local youths with essential life skills.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Millard is a member of the Australian National Team. He majored in economics.
