HASSAN, TEBOGO SHINE AT 2024 ATHLETICS AWARDS

Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo were named World Athletes of the Year at the 2024 World Athletics Awards in Monaco, celebrating their record-breaking achievements at the Paris Olympics.  

Hassan, from the Netherlands, made history by winning medals in the 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon, including a marathon gold in an Olympic record time of 2:22:55. Botswana’s Tebogo claimed his country’s first Olympic gold in any sport, winning the 200m with a scorching African record of 19.46 seconds, along with a silver medal in the 4x400m relay.  

Category Winners

— Field Athletes of the Year: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) and Mondo Duplantis (Sweden). 
— Track Athletes of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) and Tebogo.
— Out-of-Stadium Athletes of the Year: Hassan and Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia).  

McLaughlin-Levrone shattered her 400m hurdles world record twice, while Mahuchikh set a high jump world record of 2.10m. Duplantis extended his pole vault record to 6.26m, and Tola triumphed in the Olympic marathon.  

Rising Stars and Special Honors

Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew and Italy’s Mattia Furlani received Rising Star awards for their exceptional performances in U20 and senior competitions. Phil Knight, Nike co-founder, was presented with the President’s Award for his lasting impact on athletics.  

Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, commended the athletes for redefining limits in 2024, noting their contribution to six world records and numerous Olympic and national milestones.  

The ceremony also honored the legacy of marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically passed away earlier this year, and celebrated the achievements of coaches, administrators, and contributors to the sport.  

Hassan and Tebogo’s emotional speeches highlighted the global support for athletes. “This year was crazy,” Hassan said, reflecting on her record-breaking feats. Tebogo, visibly moved, thanked fans for their unwavering support, adding, “This means a lot for my country and continent.”  

The evening was a celebration of resilience, innovation, and excellence in athletics, marking an unforgettable year for the sport.