Olympic champions Sifan Hassan, Letsile Tebogo named Athletes of the Year

Dutch runner is rewarded for her three Olympic medals in the space of a week at the 2024 Games in Paris, where Tebogo won the men’s 200m gold.

Dutch marathoner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, both of whom took gold at the Paris Olympics, have been named Athletes of the Year by World Athletics.

Hassan, who also won the out-of-stadium award, was rewarded for her incredible performance in the French capital which stretched beyond the marathon and to the track.

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

“I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan after receiving her award in Monaco on Sunday. “This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing.”

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

“This means a lot,” said Tebogo who doubled up with 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.”

Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo receives the Mens Track Athlete of the Year Award during the World Athletics Awards 2024 in Monaco on December 1, 2024. (Photo by FREDERIC DIDES / AFP) — Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo receives the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year Award [Frederic Dides/AFP]

The World Athletics also decided to reward many 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 and setting a new world record of 6.26 metres.

Male Field Athlete of the Year Winner 🏆

🇸🇪’s Mondo Duplantis is your Male Field Athlete of the Year 🤩#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/Qfri99weQT

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 1, 2024

Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh was the winner in the women’s event, 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, clocking 50.37 seconds 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 last year’s Men’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road accident in February.