Six stars named World Athletes of the Year in Monaco

World Athletics has named six athletes as World Athletes of the Year for 2023.

The athletes are Tigist Assefa, Mondo Duplantis, Kelvin Kiptum, Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles and Yulimar Rojas.

According to World Athletics, ‘the adaptation of the World Athlete of the Year honours awarded this year follows feedback received during the voting process. ‘Many sensational performances– including an extraordinary 23 world records – were achieved in 2023. 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.’

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.

‘The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion of the World Athletics Awards to recognise the
accomplishments by these six athletes across a range of disciplines,’ said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

‘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 recognised as the athletes of the year in their respective fields.

‘I congratulate our award winners and all of the athletes nominated for these honours.’

Africans may not be happy with World Athletics’ decision as they view Faith Kipyegon as the undisputed women athlete of the year.

Kipyegon set world records at an incredible three distances during a season in which she also achieved a golden double at the World Athletics Championships
Budapest 23.

First, the 29-year-old Kenyan improved the world 1500m record to 3:49.11 in Florence, taking almost a full second off the previous mark.

Just one week later, and despite having raced the 5000m just twice before, she improved the world record for that event, too, clocking 14:05.20 in Paris to shave 1.42 seconds from the old record. Her third world record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64.

Then, in Budapest, she won her third senior world 1500m title and her first world 5000m crown.

World Athletes of the Year for 2023

Women’s track: Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m
Women’s field: Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump
Women’s out of stadia: Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon
Men’s track: Noah Lyles, USA, 100m/200m
Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis, SWE, pole vault
Men’s out of stadia: Kelvin Kiptum, KEN, marathon