Furlani, Hibbert and Laros are World Athletics’ 2024 Men’s Rising Star Award finalists
Paris 2024 Olympics long jump bronze medalist, Mattia Furlani of Italy tops the list of three athletes listed by World Athletics for the 2024 Men’s Rising Star Award which will recognise this year’s best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The 19-year-old set a 8.38m World U20 record to place second at the European Championships in June in addition to winning another silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in March.
His 8.38m leap in June is the fourth longest by any man so far in 2024.
The Italian will be challenged for the award by the duo of triple jumper, Jaydon Hibbert of Jamaica and the Netherlands’ Niels Laros.
Hibbert did not make it to the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics but his 17.75m effort in June in Jamaica is the third longest jump this year and tops the World U20 list in 2024 and also first in the U20 all-time list.
Also in contention is Laros who ran 3:29.54 to place sixth in the 1500m at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His time is also a European U20 record while in the 1000m he set a new 2:14.37 World U20 record.
According to World Athletics, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances that the sport has witnessed this year, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, World Athletics U20 Championships, World Athletics Cross Country Championships, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The winner of the 2024 Men’s Rising Star Award will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms on 1 December.
