Dutch marathon runner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, were honoured as ‘Athletes of the Year.’
Hassan, who also claimed the out-of-stadium award, dazzled audiences in Paris with performances that included two bronze medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and a gold in the marathon. She clinched the marathon victory by outpacing Ethiopia’s former world record holder, Tigist Assefa, by a mere three seconds.
Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo are the 2024 World Athlete's of the year 🤩#AthleticsAwards
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 1, 2024Tebogo made history as the first African Olympic champion in the 200m, clocking in at 19.46 seconds at the Stade de France, narrowly defeating American Kenny Bednarek and favourite Noah Lyles. Tebogo expressed his gratitude when he received his award, noting, “This means a lot. It’s not just about the team around you; many fans want us to achieve something great for the continent. Hearing my name was a real surprise.”
Male World Athlete of the Year Winner 🏆
🇧🇼's Letsile Tebogo is your Male World Athlete of the Year 🤩#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/bn8H1gc7r2
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 1, 2024The federation also acknowledged other outstanding Olympic performances. After an undefeated year, Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis won the men’s field category award, having secured an Olympic gold and a new world record of 6.26 meters. Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh won in the women’s field event for setting a new world record of 2.10 meters at only 22 years old and claiming Olympic gold in Paris.
Female World Athlete of the Year Winner 🏆
🇳🇱's Sifan Hassan is your Female World Athlete of the Year 🤩#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/KGhn4f3ZQ7
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 1, 2024Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was celebrated in the track category for breaking her world record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.37. Ethiopian Tamirat Tola received the men’s out-of-stadium award for his marathon victory. Rising star awards went to Ethiopian steeplechaser Sembo Almayew and Italian long-jumper Mattia Furlani.
🏅 Dutch middle-distance runner Sifan Hassan and Botswana's sprinter Letsile Tebogo named 2024 World Athletes of Year
🏃🏽♀️ Hassan set new Olympic record in women’s marathon, while Tebogo made history with Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold in 200m https://t.co/cPZENWp9Ol pic.twitter.com/QrRh9NCZth
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 2, 2024The ceremony also paid tribute to last year’s men’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year, Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically died in a road accident in February.
