2003

2003 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year award (5th consecutive year and shared jointly with Grant Hackett)
2003 Sydney’s Greatest Ever Male Sports Star Award (as voted by readers of The Daily Telegraph)
Australia’s 50 Most Beautiful Exports for 2003

2002

2002 Commonwealth Sports Award for Outstanding Male
2002 Australian Face Abroad Award - the person that has been voted on by the Foreign Press as the best representative of Australian culture, attitude and ideals, best depicts the Australia people and the Australian way of life
2002 World Swimmer of the Year, voted by USA Swimming Magazine (first time won four times)
2002 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year award (4th consecutive year)
2002 Telstra People's Choice Award
2002 NSWIS Athlete of the Year

2001

2001 Sport Industry Male Athlete of the Year award
2001 Inducted into the Sydney International Aquatic Centre 'Path of Champions', for exceptional sporting achievement (recognised by a plaque at SIAC)
2001 American International Athlete Trophy award (formerly known as the Jesse Owens Awards)
2001 Most Popular World Athlete, voted by China Sports Daily readers
2001 Athlete of the Year, NSW Sports Federation
2001 World Swimmer of the Year, voted by USA Swimming Magazine
L'Equipe 2nd 'Best' Sports Person of the Year award (1pt behind Michael Schumacher)
2001 NSWIS Athlete of the Year
2001 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year
2001 Telstra People's Choice Award
2001 Telstra Australian Middle Distance Freestyle Swimmer of the Year
GQ Sportsman of the Year award
2001 Sportsman of the Year Nominee, Laureus World Sports Award
2001 ABC Sport Award
Powerade "Never Give Up" Award - Awarded to Ian at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
2001 Olympic Writers Award

2000

2000 Young Australian of the Year
2000 NSWIS Athlete of the Year
2000 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year
2000 Olympic Writers Award

1999

1999 Athlete of the Year, NSW Sports Federation
1999 NSWIS Athlete of the Year
1999 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year
1999 Telstra Australian Middle Distance Swimmer of the Year
1999 Olympic Writers Award
1999 World Swimmer of the Year, voted by USA Swimming Magazine
1999 Male Athlete of the Year at the Australian Sport Awards
1999 ABC Sport Award, Voted by Australians
1999 "Don Award" The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Sir Donald Bradman Award. Presented to the Athlete who has, through their example in sport, most inspired the nation.
1999 "People's Choice" Australian of the Year
1999 NSW Sports Category Young Australian of the Year

1998

1998 MMI/Daily Telegraph Sports Star of the Year
1998 Athlete of the Year, NSW Sports Federation
1998 NSW Overall winner Young Australian of the Year
1998 NSW Sports Category Young Australian of the Year
1998 World Swimmer of the Year, voted by USA Swimming Magazine
1998 Awarded a plaque on the "Path of Champions" at the Sydney Aquatic Centre