The 2024 World Athletics Awards took place in Monaco, with Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo being crowned the World Athletes of the Year. The two athletes were chosen from a list of nominees that included some of the biggest names in athletics.
Hassan, who won gold in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the same Games. Her 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.
Tebogo, who won gold in the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, made history by becoming the first athlete from Botswana to win an Olympic gold medal. He ran an African record of 19.46, which moved him to fifth on the world all-time list.
The awards ceremony also saw other athletes being recognized for their achievements. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was named women’s track athlete of the year, while Mondo Duplantis was named men’s field athlete of the year. Yaroslava Mahuchikh was named women’s field athlete of the year, and Tamirat Tola was named men’s out of stadium athlete of the year.
The Rising Stars of the year were also recognized, with Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani receiving the awards. Almayew finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics, while Furlani improved the world U20 long jump record to 8.38m at the European Championships.
The winner of the President’s Award was also announced, with Nike co-founder Phil Knight receiving the honor in recognition of his constant inspiring support for athletics and the development of the sport.
