APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Tigist Assefa along with Mondo Duplantis, Kelvin Kiptum, Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles and Yulimar Rojas have been announced as World Athletes of the Year for 2023.
The world champions and world record-breakers were revealed as the final winners at the World Athletics Awards 2023 on Monday.
The adaptation of the World Athlete of the Year honors awarded this year follows feedback received during the voting process.
When it came to compiling the votes, athletes, fans and World Athletics Family members commented that it was incredibly hard to limit the vote to just one athlete, because of the various disciplines and the vast differences in skill sets required, per the governing body of the sport.
As a result, for 2023 the World Athlete of the Year awards have been divided into three event categories: track, field and out of stadia.
“Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records between them in 2023, as well as a host of world titles and major wins, so it is only fitting that they be recognized as the athletes of the year in their respective fields,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
“I congratulate our award winners and all of the athletes nominated for these honours.”
Tigist Assefa, Duplantis, Kiptum and Kipyegon set world records in their respective events in 2023, while all six World Athletes of the Year secured world titles or major marathon wins.
The moment of the year for Tigist came at the BMW Berlin Marathon in September, when the Ethiopian 27-year-old ran 2:11:53, smashing the world record by two minutes and 14 seconds and achieving the biggest single improvement on the mark for 40 years.
MG/as/APA