NEWS
Race for Athletes of Year Nearly Run
With the 2023 World Athletics Awards just around the corner , the finalists have been confirmed by World Athletics , and now we wait to see who will take home the various titles in December . – BY SEAN FALCONER
In recent weeks , World Athletics has announced the names of the finalists in the various categories of the 2023 World Athletics Awards , most selected with both public participation from fans as well as with expert input from the World Athletics Family . In the voting for World Athletes of the Year alone , fans logged a record two million votes on the World Athletics social media platforms , contributing greatly to the final selection of finalists .
That sees five finalists each in the men ’ s and women ’ s World Athlete of the Year categories , with three each in the men ’ s and women ’ s Rising Star Award categories , which recognise the year ’ s best Under-20 athletes . These nominations reflect some of the standout performances that the sport has witnessed this year , with many of these
Men ’ s Finalists for World Athlete of the Year
Neeraj Chopra ( India ) – Javelin World Champion , Asian Games Champion
Ryan Crouser ( USA ) – Shot Put World Champion , World Record
Mondo Duplantis ( Sweden ) – Pole Vault World Champion , Diamond League Champion , World Record
Kelvin Kiptum ( Kenya ) – Marathon London & Chicago Marathon winner , World Record-breaker
Noah Lyles ( USA ) – 100m / 200m World Champion 100m & 200m , world leader & undefeated in six 200m finals athletes producing sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2023 , notably at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst , World Athletics Championships in Budapest and World Road Running Championships in Riga , but also in the one-day meeting circuits , Label road races and other events around the world .
Furthermore , World Athletics is pleased to announce the three finalists for the International Fair Play Award . Last month , World Athletics invited fans to take to social media to cast their vote for the moment that has best exemplified fair play this year , and following that voting period , members of the International Fair Play Committee ( CIFP ) and World Athletics formed a jury , whose scores were combined with the social media scores to determine the three finalists .
Women ’ s Finalists for World Athlete of the Year
Tigist Assefa ( Ethiopia ) – Marathon Berlin Marathon winner , World Marathon Record
Femke Bol ( Netherlands ) – 400m / 400m Hurdles World Champion 400m Hurdles , World Indoor 400m Record
Shericka Jackson ( Jamaica ) – 100m / 200m World Champion 200m & silver medallist 100m , Diamond League Champion 100m & 200m
Faith Kipyegon ( Kenya ) – 1500m / Mile / 5000m World Champion 1500m & 5000m , World Records at 1500m , Mile & 5000m
Yulimar Rojas ( Venezuela ) – Triple Jump World Champion , Diamond League Champion
Men ’ s Rising Star Finalists
Roshawn Clarke ( Jamaica ) – 400m Hurdles Fourth place at World Championships , equalled & then broke World U20 Record
Erriyon Knighton ( USA ) – 200m World Championships silver medallist , Winner of Diamond League races in Florence & Oslo
Emmanuel Wanyonyi ( Kenya ) – 800m World Championships silver medallist , Diamond League Champion , World Cross Country Champs mixed relay gold medal
Women ’ s Rising Star Finalists
Faith Cherotich ( Kenya ) – 3000m SC World Championships bronze medallist , second on all-time U20 list , World Cross Country Championships U20 fourth place
Medina Eisa ( Ethiopia ) – Middle Distances
World Cross Country Championships U20 silver , World Road Running Championships 5km fourth place , World Championships 5000m sixth place
Angelina Topic ( Serbia ) – High Jump World Championships seventh place , European U20 Champion
Fair Play Award Finalists
Daniel Ebenyo ( Kenya ): In first place during the closing stages of the men ’ s half marathon at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 , Ebenyo saluted his teammate as fellow Kenyan Sebastian Sawe overtook him for gold .
Letesenbet Gidey ( Ethiopia ): After securing silver in the women ’ s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 , Gidey went back to comfort Netherlands ’ Sifan Hassan after her dramatic fall on the home straight , which cost her a medal .
Jessica Warner-Judd ( Great Britain ): After finishing eighth in the 10,000m final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 , Warner-Judd was the only athlete to wait and shake hands with the final placed runner , who completed the event some distance behind the rest of the field .
12 ISSUE 163 | www . modernathlete . co . za
The winners will be announced on World Athletics ’ platforms on 11 December , as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023 .
Images : Courtesy World Athletics