Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo named ‘Athletes of the Year’

PARIS – Dutch marathon runner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, who both struck gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, were named the women and men’s Athlete of the Year respectively by governing body World Athletics in Monaco on Dec 1.

Hassan, who also won the women’s out-of-stadium award, was rewarded for her incredible performance in the French capital, where she also excelled on the track.

In the space of seven days, she won bronze medals in the 5,000m, having also run a heat, and the 10,000m, and a spectacular gold in the marathon where she outsprinted Ethiopia’s then world record holder Tigst Assefa to win by just three seconds.

“I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan, 31, after receiving her award in Monaco.

“This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing.”

Tebogo, 21, received his award after becoming the first African to be crowned Olympic champion in the 200m, crossing the line at the Stade de France in 19.46 seconds, edging out Americans Kenny Bednarek and the favourite Noah Lyles.

“This means a lot,” said Tebogo, who also took the men’s track award.

“It’s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent.

“It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn’t expect this.”

World Athletics also decided to reward a number of other athletes who shone at the Olympics.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis won the men’s field category after an unbeaten 2024, winning Olympic gold in Paris and setting a world record of 6.26m at the Diamond League in Poland.

Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh was the winner in the women’s event, after improving the high jump world record to 2.10m at the age of just 22 and also winning Olympic gold in Paris.

In addition to Tebogo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was rewarded in the track category for beating her own world record in the 400m hurdles, finishing in 50.37sec to win gold in Paris, while men’s Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia was given the out-of-stadium award.

Ethiopian steeplechaser Sembo Almayew and Italian long jumper Mattia Furlani were given the rising star awards.

During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember the 2023 men’s out-of-stadium winner Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who died in a road traffic accident in February.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe dazzled on his marathon debut as he ran the fifth-fastest time ever to win the Valencia Marathon on Dec 1, while Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu took the women’s title.

The 28-year-old Sawe triumphed in 2hr 2min 5sec, crossing the line 33sec ahead of Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, with compatriot Daniel Mateiko rounding out the podium in 2:04:24.

Kiptum holds the world record for the fastest marathon with a time of 2:00:35 set in Chicago in 2023. He is followed by Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Sisay Lemma and now Sawe.

“I am so excited and happy to win here. It is a great moment for me,” said Sawe, who won the half-marathon title at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia in 2023.

In the women’s race, Alemu, 27, triumphed in 2:16:49.

Ugandan Stella Chesang was second in 2:18:26 and Ethiopian Tiruye Mesfin third in 2:18:35.

Before the race began, a moment of silence was held for the 220 people who lost their lives in the recent floods in the Valencia region.

The organisers pledged to donate €3 (S$4.25) for every participant who crossed the finish line, while the 35,000 runners taking part were encouraged to contribute to a flood recovery fund. AFP, REUTERS