FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
World: Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
Double at the World Champs 1500+5000. Triple World record in 1500, Mile, 5000m
Europe: Femke Bol (NED)
Double for both World Champs (400H, Relay) and Euro Indoors (400, Relay). 400m indoor world record.
Asia: Shanti Pereira (SIN)
Singapore’s first Asian CH titles ever (100, 200). Asian Games 200m gold. 7x NR breaker.
Africa: Gudaf Tsegay (ETH)
Crowned second World title in 10K. Breaks 5000m World record.
South America: Joselyn Brea (VEN)
Triple CAC Games, double Pan Am Games winner. Triple South American record.
Central & North America: Marileidy Paulino (DOM)
400m World & CAC Games champion. NR holder (48.76). 4 medals at Pan Am Games.
Oceania: Nina Kennedy (AUS)
World PV co-champion. Season leader with 4.90m. NR breaker.
MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
World: Noah Lyles (USA)
Triple World champion in sprints. Season-leader both in 100m, 200m.
Europe: Armand Duplantis (SWE)
World record holder (6.23m). Retained his World title.
Asia: Neeraj Chopra (IND)
Became India’s first-ever World champion. Asian Games winner.
Africa: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Double podium at the Worlds. First African World CH medal winner in 100m. 9.88/19.50 NR
South America: Renan Correa (BRA)
Pan American Games 200m titlist. South American U20 100m record (10.01)
Central & North America: Ethan Katzberg (CAN)
World and Pan-Am hammer champion. Huge improvement on NR (81.25m).
Oceania: Ollie Hoare (AUS)
1500m Oceanian record (3:29.41). Mixed World XC bronze.
PROSPECTS OF THE YEAR
Europe: Niels Laros (NED) / Angelina Topic (SRB)
Asia: Seifeldin Abdelsalam (QAT) / Tharushi Dissanayake (SRI)
Africa: Samuel Ogazi (NGR) / Medina Eisa (ETH)
South America: Matheus Lima (BRA) / Nathalia Linares (COL)
Central & North America: Jaydon Hibbert (JAM) / Michelle Smith (ISV)
Oceania: Yeshnil Karan (FIJ) / Nathania Tan (NMI)
TOP PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR
MEN
1) Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) - 2:00:35 (Marathon)
Kenya’s emerging star shuttered Eliud Kipchoge’s world record in Chicago by 34 second on his only third marathon. Clocked mind-blowing 59:47 second half in Chicago.
2) Armand Duplantis (SWE) – 6.23m (PV)
The Swede improved his own World record in very last race of the season. He cleared 6.23 in Eugene at Diamond League finals.
3) Ryan Crouser (USA) - 23.56m (SP)
The 2.01m tall from Oregon underlined his position on very top of the shot putting. He improved previous WR mark bu 19 centimetres at Drake Stadium, LA.
4) Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) - 3:27.14 (1500m)
Norwegian super talent Ingebrigtsen’s 1500m world record quest did not occured. Still, he hailed as Europen record holder with 3:27.14 clocking at Chorzow. Takes 5000m gold at Worlds.
5) Lamecha Girma (ETH) - 7:52.11 (3000SC)
The Ethiopian silver man (five-time major second-placer including Olympics) broke steeplechase World record in Paris which held by Saif Saeed Shaheen since 2004.
WOMEN
1) Faith Kipyegon (KEN) - 3:49.11 (1500m)
Set a 1500m World record of 3:49.11 in Florence DL meet to become the first woman in history to break the 3:50-barrier.
2) Tigist Assefa (ETH) - 2:11:53 (Marathon)
As a former sub 2-min 800m runner, she became new queen of marathon. Clocked 2:11:53 in Berlin, one of the fastest course in the earth. Progressed previous mark by 2 mins 11 seconds.
3) Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) - 14:00.21 (5000m)
She broke 5000m World record in Eugene Diamond League finals. Clocked 14:00.21 as progressed five seconds over Faith Kipyegon’s previous mark.
4) United States (USA) - 41.03 (4x100m)
The US quartet which empowered by 100m World champion ShaCarri Richardson, registered fourth-best mark in all time at Budapest’s National Athletics Stadium.
5) Shericka Jackson (JAM) - 21.41 (200m)
Jamaican sprint ace may be failed her aim for sprint double in Budapest but still got much impressed the athletics World in Premium event. Just missed by 0.07 of historic World record.
MOST IMPROVED ATHLETICS NATION OF THE YEAR
INDIA: Now officially most populous country of the world, Indians have enjoyed probably their best season in athletics. They’ve reached six finals (all-time high for them) in Budapest and celebrated first World title which came from nation’s golden boy, Neeraj Chopra. Indians collected high number of medals in Asian Games (29) and Asian Championships (27). In grand total, Indian athletes have secured 122 medals in global and continental events in 2023.
SPECIAL “FIRST-EVER” AWARDS
She won first athletics gold in Universiade for Luxembourg. Lowered 100m national record to 11.02. Also renews 200m outdoor and indoor national records. Easily won Games of Small States of Europe 100 metres victory as well.
He brought to Pakistan first World championships title. Only contested in World Championships and took silver in Budapest behind Neeraj Chopra.
