With the Athletics season wrapping up for the year of 2024, there are certain athletes who have displayed outstanding ability throughout the year. Especially with the 2024 Paris Olympics and the establishment of new records, the world of track and field has been lit up this year all around the world. Millions of people have been inspired through the athletes that have changed the world of track and field as we know it, and were honoured at the ‘World Athletics Awards’, held on the 1st of December.
It was Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan who claimed the big award of ‘The World Athlete of the Year’ in their respective male and female categories.
Sifan Hassan, the Dutchwoman for her performance in the long distance events. With her gold medal from this year’s Olympics, she became the first woman to win Olympic gold in the marathon, 5000m and 10000m. Additionally, she also became the first athlete, male or female, to win medals in these three events since 1952.
On the other hand, Tebogo from Botswana became the first Olympic Champion of his country in Paris 2024, with his win in the highly competitive 200m event. He broke his own African record with a timing of 19.46 and also won the title of ‘Male Track Athlete of the Year.’
Further, Sydney McLaughlin from the United States of America won the Female Track Athlete of the Year after breaking her world record for the second time, in the 400m hurdles event. She has been taking this event by storm in the past years, breaking her own world records six times. She also retained her Olympic title in Paris, adding on a gold medal in the 4x400m event.
The Swedish Pole-Vaulter, Mondo Duplantis, undefeated in recent years and also raising his own world record three times, held onto his title of Male Field Athlete of the Year.’ With gold medals in the World Indoor Championships and European Championships too, his current record is an incredible height of 6.25m, at only the age of 24.
It was also Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh that took the title of ‘Female Field Athlete of the Year’, after her victory in the High Jump event at the Paris Olympics. She also broke a 37-year-old record held by Stefka Kostadinova, with a jump of 2.10m.
Furthermore, it was Italian teenager Mattia Furlani, who claimed bronze in the long jump in Paris, was named Male Rising Star of the Year. The Female Rising Star award was given to Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew for her impressive fifth-place finish in the Olympic 3000m steeplechase final.
These athletes have all left lasting impressions among the crowds, receiving much support and recognition by their fans. As it is notable that they are mostly very young and seemingly improve each year, we can anticipate their future successes. They have redefined the possibilities of human potential with their unparalleled skills. It is no surprise that each and every athlete who has won these awards is entirely deserving of their place, the best among incredibly talented athletes.
