The World Athletics Awards is a prize that can be won by athletes participating in events within the sport of athletics organised by World Athletics (formerly named IAAF), including track and field, cross country running, road running, and racewalking.

World Athletics Awards
Presented byWorld Athletics
First awarded1988
Websitehttps://worldathletics.org/awards
Sprinter Usain Bolt, here holding the 2011 trophy, was World Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011–2013, and 2016, more times than any other athlete.

The first athletes awarded World Athlete of the Year in 1988 were Americans, namely sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner and track and field athlete Carl Lewis.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is the only athlete, male or female, to win the World Athlete of the Year Awards six times. Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Morocco's middle-distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj have won the main award three times. Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has also won the award three times including the inaugural World Athlete of the Year (Men's field) award in 2023 after World Athletics Awards changed from crowning a sole male and female winner to issuing awards across six categories (see below for further details).[1] American track and field athlete Marion Jones, sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross representing the USA, Carl Lewis and other American sprinter Michael Johnson, Ethiopia's long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele and Kenya's long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge have won the award twice each.

The Rising Star of the Year award was inaugurated in 2005, when Great Britain's sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was awarded. The first woman to be voted was steeplechase specialist, Ruth Bosibori of Kenya, in 2007.

Belgian heptathlete Nafissatou Thiam was the first to receive Rising Star award followed by Athlete of the Year trophy. The other athletes to achieve the feat were Venezuela's triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, American hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levron, Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, and Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm. In 2022, American sprinter Erriyon Knighton became the first athlete to be crowned Rising Star twice.

Changes to Awards System

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In 2023 the World Athlete of the Year awards for men and women were expanded into three event categories: track, field, and out of stadia.[1][2]

In 2024, World Athletics further revamped the World Athletics Awards system. Besides the three separate World Athlete of the Year awards for men and three for women, recognising the athletes of the year for track, field and out-of-stadium event, there will also be men’s and women’s awards for an overall World Athlete of the Year. Two finalists in each of the three category will progress to be considered for the overall World Athletic of the year.

The 2024 World Athletics Awards voting system include a fan vote to help determine the overall World Athlete of the Year. Once the finalists have been established, the fan vote will open – for all registered users of Inside Track – to help determine the overall World Athletes of the Year.

As of 2024, the World Athletics Awards includes the World Athlete of the Year awards, Rising Star awards, Coaching Achievement Award, Woman of the Year, Photograph of the Year, Member Federation Award and President’s Award.

Athlete of the Year winners

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Middle-distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj has won the World Athlete of the Year award three times in 2001–2003.
 
Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was World Athlete of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2008, the most wins in the female category, because Marion Jones's third award was annulled.
World Athlete of the Year winners[3]
Year Men Women Ref.
1988   Carl Lewis (1/2)   Florence Griffith Joyner [4]
1989   Roger Kingdom   Ana Fidelia Quirot [5]
1990   Steve Backley   Merlene Ottey [6]
1991   Carl Lewis (2/2)   Katrin Krabbe [7]
1992   Kevin Young   Heike Henkel [8]
1993   Colin Jackson   Sally Gunnell [9]
1994   Noureddine Morceli   Jackie Joyner-Kersee [10]
1995   Jonathan Edwards   Gwen Torrence [11]
1996   Michael Johnson (1/2)   Svetlana Masterkova [12]
1997   Wilson Kipketer   Marion Jones (1/2) [13]
1998   Haile Gebrselassie   Marion Jones (2/2) [14]
1999   Michael Johnson (2/2)   Gabriela Szabo [15]
2000   Jan Železný   Marion Jones[note 1] [17]
2001   Hicham El Guerrouj (1/3)   Stacy Dragila [18]
2002   Hicham El Guerrouj (2/3)   Paula Radcliffe [19]
2003   Hicham El Guerrouj (3/3)   Hestrie Cloete [20]
2004   Kenenisa Bekele (1/2)   Yelena Isinbayeva (1/3) [21]
2005   Kenenisa Bekele (2/2)   Yelena Isinbayeva (2/3) [22]
2006   Asafa Powell   Sanya Richards (1/2) [23]
2007   Tyson Gay   Meseret Defar [24]
2008   Usain Bolt (1/6)   Yelena Isinbayeva (3/3) [25]
2009   Usain Bolt (2/6)   Sanya Richards (2/2) [26]
2010   David Rudisha   Blanka Vlašić [27]
2011   Usain Bolt (3/6)   Sally Pearson [28]
2012   Usain Bolt (4/6)   Allyson Felix [29]
2013   Usain Bolt (5/6)   Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce [30]
2014   Renaud Lavillenie   Valerie Adams [31]
2015   Ashton Eaton   Genzebe Dibaba [32]
2016   Usain Bolt (6/6)   Almaz Ayana [33]
2017   Mutaz Essa Barshim   Nafissatou Thiam [34]
2018   Eliud Kipchoge (1/2)   Caterine Ibargüen [35]
2019   Eliud Kipchoge (2/2)   Dalilah Muhammad [36]
2020   Armand Duplantis (1/3)   Yulimar Rojas (1/2) [37]
2021   Karsten Warholm   Elaine Thompson-Herah [38]
2022   Armand Duplantis (2/3)   Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone [39]
2023   Noah Lyles
  Armand Duplantis (3/3)
  Kelvin Kiptum
  Faith Kipyegon
  Yulimar Rojas (2/2)
  Tigist Assefa
[1]

Won per country

Country Won
  United States 20
  Jamaica 10
  Ethiopia 7
  Kenya 5
  United Kingdom 5
  Russia 4
  Morocco 3
  Sweden 3
  Germany 2
  Venezuela 2
  Algeria 1
  Australia 1
  Belgium 1
  Colombia 1
  Croatia 1
  Cuba 1
  Czech Republic 1
  Denmark 1
  France 1
  New Zealand 1
  Norway 1
  Qatar 1
  Romania 1
  South Africa 1

Rising Star winners

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Sprinter Erriyon Knighton is the only athlete that won the Rising Star of the Year award twice, in 2021 and 2022.
Rising Star of the Year winners
Year Men Women Ref.
2005   Harry Aikines-Aryeetey [40]
2006   Margus Hunt [4]
2007   Ruth Bosibori [4]
2008   Pamela Jelimo[note 2] [4]
2009 not awarded
2010   Till Wöschler   Angelica Bengtsson [41]
2011   Kirani James   Christin Hussong [42]
2012   Keshorn Walcott   Anthonique Strachan [4]
2013   Mary Cain [4]
2014   Wilhem Belocian   Morgan Lake [4]
2015   Abdul Hakim Sani Brown   Candace Hill [4]
2016   Andre De Grasse   Nafissatou Thiam [4]
2017   Karsten Warholm   Yulimar Rojas [4]
2018   Armand Duplantis   Sydney McLaughlin [4]
2019   Selemon Barega   Yaroslava Mahuchikh [4]
2020 not awarded[note 3]
2021   Erriyon Knighton (1/2)   Athing Mu [38]
2022   Erriyon Knighton (2/2)   Adriana Vilagoš [43]
2023   Emmanuel Wanyonyi   Faith Cherotich [2]

Won per country

Country Won
  United States 6
  Kenya 4
  Germany 2
  Sweden 2
  United Kingdom 2
  Bahamas 1
  Belgium 1
  Canada 1
  Estonia 1
  Ethiopia 1
  France 1
  Grenada 1
  Japan 1
  Norway 1
  Serbia 1
  Trinidad and Tobago 1
  Ukraine 1
  Venezuela 1

Woman of the year winners

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Woman of the Year winners
Year Women Ref.
2023   Falilatou Tchanile-Salifou [44]

Notes

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  1. ^ In 2007, Marion Jones's award was annulled by the IAAF after she had pleaded guilty to the use of steroids in 2000 and 2001.[16]
  2. ^ As Revelation of the Year award
  3. ^ Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic

References

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  1. ^ a b c "World Athletics Awards 2023: Armand Duplantis and Faith Kipyegon among six named Athletes of the Year", BBC, 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Six stars named World Athletes of the Year in Monaco", World Athletics, 11 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ^ "World Athletes of the Year" (PDF). World Athletics.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "The Galas / Awards | 1986–2019" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Kingdom en Quirot in de prijzen" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 14 December 1989. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Jaar" (in Dutch), Nederlands Dagblad, 20 December 1990. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Krabbe en Lewis beste atleten" (in Dutch), De Telegraaf, 23 November 1991. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Atleten" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 26 November 1992. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Jackson en Gunnell onderscheiden" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 2 November 1993. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Morceli en Joyner atleten van het jaar" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 3 December 1994. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ Cors van den Brink, "‘Misstap’ voor Gwen Torrence waardevoller dan wereldtitel" (in Dutch), Algemeen Dagblad, 28 December 1995. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Prijzen Johnson en Masterkova" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 14 December 1996. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Plus: Track and Field; Kipketer and Jones Are Honored", The New York Times, 22 November 1997. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Jones uitgeroepen tot atlete van 1998" (in Dutch), NRC Handelsblad, 23 November 1998. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  15. ^ Andreas Evagora, "Lewis, Blankers-Koen named as IAAF athletes of the century", The Independent, 21 November 1999. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^ "For steroid use, Marion Jones's results annulled", The New York Times, 23 November 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Jones and Zelezny honoured", BBC News, 26 November 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Middle-distance runner El Guerrouj, vauler Dragila win", ESPN, 25 November 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Morocco: IAAF Name Radcliffe , El Guerrouj Athletes of the Year", AllAfrica.com, 19 November 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  20. ^ Neil Callanan, "El Guerrouj and Cloete win athletes awards", RTÉ, 14 June 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Isinbayeva, Bekele Named World Athletes of the Year", Haaretz, 20 September 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Track and Field Bekele and Isinbayeva Land Athletes of Year Award - Again", Haaretz, 11 November 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Usain Bolt and Sanya Richards named world athletes of the year", The Guardian, 22 November 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  24. ^ Bob Ramsak, "Gay and Defar named as IAAF athletes of the year", Reuters, 25 November 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Bolt and Isinbayeva Take I.A.A.F. Awards", The New York Times, 24 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Usain Bolt & Sanya Richards claim top honours", BBC News, 22 November 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  27. ^ Barry Roberts, "Rudisha and Vlasic named best-performing athletes of 2010", The Independent, 22 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Bolt and Pearson named Athletes of the Year", Reuters, 13 November 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix win IAAF athlete of the year awards", BBC, 24 November 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Usain Bolt named World Athlete of the Year for fifth time", BBC, 16 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  31. ^ Nick Zaccardi, "Renaud Lavillenie, Valerie Adams win IAAF Athlete of the Year awards", NBC Sports, 21 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Ashton Eaton and Genzebe Dibaba named IAAF’s athletes of the year", The Guardian, 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  33. ^ Mark Crellin, "Usain Bolt and Almaz Ayana named the top athletes of the year", Sky Sports, 2 December 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Barshim and Thiam athletes of the year", SBS News, 25 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  35. ^ "La colombiana Caterine Ibargüen es la mejor atleta del mundo en 2018" (in Spanish), CNN en Español, 4 December 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Eliud Kipchoge and Dalilah Muhammad named athletes of the year", BBC, 23 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Mondo Duplantis, Yulimar Rojas win World Athlete of the Year awards", NBC Sports, 5 December 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  38. ^ a b Z. K. Goh, "Karsten Warholm and Elaine Thompson-Herah win World Athletics Athlete of the Year awards", Olympics.com, 27 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  39. ^ "World Athletics Athletes of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Mondo Duplantis", NBC Sports, 5 December 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  40. ^ "A rising star", BBC News, 30 January 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Rudisha and Vlasic are World Athletes of the Year – 2010 World Athletics Gala", World Athletics, 21 November 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  42. ^ "Bolt and Pearson are World Athletes of the Year – 2011 World Athletics Gala", World Athletics, 11 November 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  43. ^ "McLaughlin-Levrone and Duplantis named World Athletes of the Year", World Athletics, 5 December 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  44. ^ "World Athletics awards 2023: Falilatou Tchanile-Salifou receives the "Woman of the Year" award", Sports News Africa, 6 December 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
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