Dominant Ledecky's controversial award snub

US swimmer Katie Ledecky has controversially been snubbed for FINA's Female Swimmer of the Year award, despite a record-breaking year in the pool.

The 19-year-old was absoutely dominant in Rio, winning four gold medals (three individual), and a silver, set two world records and won the 200, 400 and 800 metre freestyle events - the first woman to do so in 48 years.

Amazingly, she has the 13 best times in the 800 metre event and has swum almost 10 seconds faster than any other woman in that race.

However Ledecky still wasn't named the top female swimmer of the year, that honour went to Hungarian Katinka Hosszu.

Hosszu is undoubtedly an amazing swimmer, who had a great year in 2016, however her success certainly didn't match Ledecky's.

Critics are blaming the snub on the point-based system that is used to decide the FINA award.

Two major components of that algorithm work against Ledecky.

Firstly, it awards a huge amount of points for World Cup events, which the American avoids altogether, and Hosszu dominates.

Secondly, it awards no points for relay events, which Ledecky dominates and Hosszu can't compete in because her country has only one female swimming medalist.

While the system correctly awarded Michael Phelps the men's prize, it's inability to appropriately reward Ledecky will surely lead to it being scrutinized in future years.

Ledecky however is unlikely to be complaining too much, she's won the award for the previous three years.