GENERAL of the year , though . This year was crazy . It ’ s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing . I ’ m really grateful . What more can I say ?”
Standing alongside Hassan on the stage at the Theatre Princesse Grace , Tebogo said : “ It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes . It was a great year .” He then added , “ This means a lot . It ’ s not just about the team that is around you , there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent . It was a real surprise to hear my name , because I didn ’ t expect this .”
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe , who handed out the prizes alongside Prince Albert of Monaco , said , “ At the end of what has been a stellar year for athletics , we are delighted to reveal our list of World Athletes of the Year – both in their respective disciplines and overall . This group of athletes represents the very best of our sport , and this year has redefined what is possible in terms of athletic performance .”
“ Our 2024 cohort set new standards in heights , speed and distance , including six World Records and a host of Olympic and national records between them . I congratulate all our award winners , and all of the athletes nominated for these honours , and I thank them for inspiring us all with their performances this year ,” he added .
During the ceremony , a moment was taken to remember last year ’ s men ’ s out of stadium athlete of the year , Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya , the marathon World Record-holder , who died in a road traffic accident in February , as well as other figures from the sport who have passed away in 2024 .
Best of the Best
World Athletes of the Year Hassan and Tebogo both won gold and claimed multiple medals at the Paris
2024 Olympic Games . Dutch star Hassan ’ s medal treble in Paris was capped by her winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55 . That performance came just 37 hours after she claimed bronze in the 10,000m , and six days after her first medal in the French capital – also bronze – in the 5000m . As a result , she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m , 10,000m and marathon at the same Games , and the first athlete to do so since Emil Zatopek , who won all three men ’ s titles in Helsinki in 1952 .
Tebogo also made history in Paris when he won the 200m , as he claimed a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana . He ran an African record of 19.46 – a time that moved him to fifth on the world all-time list – and that performance followed his sixthplace finish in the 100m final . He went on to form part of Botswana ’ s silver medal-winning men ’ s 4x400m team . He dipped under 20 seconds for 200m a total of nine times in 2024 , with those performances topped by his Olympic title-winning mark , which remained the fastest of the year in the world .
His fellow track athlete of the year , Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone , improved her own 400m hurdles World Record twice , to 50.65 and 50.37 , and claimed Olympic gold in that event as well as in the 4x400m . Tamirat Tola , who joined Hassan in being named out of stadium athlete of the year , won the Olympic marathon title in Paris in an Olympic record of 2:06:26 . World Records were set by both field athletes of the year . Mahuchikh cleared 2.10m to improve the women ’ s high jump record before winning Olympic gold , while Duplantis revised his own pole vault record three times , eventually taking it to 6.26m , and also won the Olympic title .
Rising Stars of 2024
Not only did Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani achieve great things as U20 athletes in 2024 , they both also secured success on the senior stage . Almayew finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics , going close to her own national U20 record with her 9:00.83 performance , before she travelled to Lima where she won the world U20 title , setting a championship record in the process . With that win , the 19-year-old became the first ever Ethiopian world U20 women ’ s steeplechase champion .
Furlani improved the world U20 long jump record to 8.38m at the European Championships , on home soil in Rome , to secure silver , and he won two more senior major medals at the World Indoor Championships , where he got another silver , and the Olympic Games , where he claimed bronze . In Glasgow , at the age of 19 years and 24 days , Furlani became the youngest athlete ever to win a World Indoor Champs medal in the horizontal jumps .
Knight wins President ’ s Award
The winner of the President ’ s Award was also announced in Monaco , with Nike co-founder Phil Knight receiving the honour in recognition of his constant inspiring support for athletics and the development of the sport . The President ’ s Award , first awarded in 2016 , recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics . Past winners of the award include the Ukrainian Athletics Association , British journalist Vikki Orvice , Swiss meeting director Andreas Brugger , Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt , the Abbott World Marathon Majors , and 1968 men ’ s 200m medallists Tommie Smith , Peter Norman and John Carlos , for their iconic moment on the podium in Mexico .
“ Phil Knight ’ s passion for athletics is pretty much lifelong ,” said Coe . “ He developed an almost fatherson relationship with his coach , the legendary Bill Bowerman , whose training approach was a departure from the orthodoxies of the day , and who not only guided Knight ’ s career on the track but became a central figure when Phil took his first tentative steps in the running shoe business that became the global force Nike . His love of athletics runs through Nike . It is a business created and driven by runners , with Phil never afraid to be the front runner .”
Knight said : “ Thank you , Seb Coe , for the ultimate honour of the President ’ s Award , given by World Athletics . I am in great company , with Tommie Smith and John Carlos , and Usain Bolt . Obviously , I didn ’ t run as fast as those guys , but I am in such high company that I am thrilled by the award . Track and field has always been an important part of Nike – it has always been a central part of who Nike is . I do think running will continue to grow . Not only does Seb and his team do a great job promoting the sport , but it is a sport that not only is enjoyable , but it is probably the best fitness activity you can do . So , for me to win this honour , it is very meaningful .”
Other award winners
While the main focus of the World Athletics Awards is obviously placed on the athletes themselves , World Athletics also recognises a number of other roleplayers in the sport with a set of further awards .
Coaching Achievement Award
Trevor Painter The British coach has been guiding athletes for almost a quarter of a century , and has coached more than 30 athletes to international level , including the women ’ s 800m champion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games , Keely Hodgkinson .
Woman of the Year
Renee Washington
Washington receives the honour in recognition of the work she has done to promote the advancement of gender equity in athletics , particularly in her role as Chief Operating Officer at USA Track & Field ( USATF ).
Photograph of the Year
Michael Steele Steele ’ s image of Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan colliding towards the end of the women ’ s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been selected as the World Athletics Photograph of the Year .
Member Federation Award
USA Track & Field The US team finished top of the medal table at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games , the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 , claiming 34 medals ( 16 gold ) in Paris , 16 medals ( eight gold ) in Lima , and 20 medals ( six gold ) in Glasgow .
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