World Athletics Championships: Day one of competition

The World Athletics Awards 2024 took place in Monaco on Sunday recognising an array of achievements with honours such as World Athletes of the Year, Rising Stars of the Year, Woman of the Year, Photograph of the Year, President’s, Coaching Achievement, and the Member Federation accolade.

On a night that crowned six athletes in three different categories of track, field and out-of-stadium, it was Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who took the evening's top honours and were named the World Athletes of the Year for 2024 by World Athletics for their triumphs at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Hassan won the Women's Out Of Stadium category and was named Women’s World Athlete of the Year ahead of Ukrainian high-jump Olympic gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who won Women's Field Athlete of the Year, and the decorated four-time gold medallist hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States, who won the Women's Track Athlete of the Year category.

The Dutch star won the women's marathon event in Paris this summer setting an Olympic record with a time of 2:22:55. The triumph came just 37 hours after finishing third in the 10,000-metre race and six days on from clinching another bronze in all of the 5000 metre, 10,000 metre and marathon races at the same Olympic Games. 

"Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted. I never thought I was going to win this one" Hassan said at the ceremony at the Theatre Princesse Grace in Monaco. "This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing. I’m really grateful. What more can I say?"

Tebogo, meanwhile, was crowned the Men's Track Athlete of the Year and was decorated as the Men’s World Athlete of the Year ahead of Ethiopia's long-distance runner Tamirat Tola, who was crowned in the Men’s Out Of Stadium category, and Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis who was named Men's Field Athlete of the Year.

The 21-year-old sprinter became a national hero in Paris this summer, becoming Botswana's first-ever Olympic gold medallist when he won the 200m event with the fastest time of the year, the fifth fastest time ever, and an African record of 19.46. He then helped Botswana to another medal as part of the men's 4x400m team who won silver. 

"It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year. This means a lot," Tebogo said upon receiving the 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."

"This group of athletes represents the very best of our sport and has this year redefined what is possible in terms of athletic performance," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. "Our 2024 cohort set new standards in heights, speed and distance, including six world records and a host of Olympic and national records between them. I congratulate all our award winners and all of the athletes nominated for these honours, and I thank them for inspiring us all with their performances this year."