By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp
ANKARA (AA) – Dutch middle-distance runner Sifan Hassan was named the 2024 Women’s World Athlete of the Year and sprinter Letsile Tebogo of Botswana was announced as the 2024 Men’s World Athlete of the Year on Sunday.
Following a vote by fans, sports governing body World Athletics announced the winners of the 2024 awards in Monaco.
"Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted," said Hassan. "I never thought I was going to win this one. This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing. I’m really grateful. What more can I say?"
Hassan set a new Olympic record of 2:22:55 in the Paris 2024 women’s marathon on Aug. 11.
Tebogo said: "It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year."
On Aug. 8, Tebogo made history in Paris by claiming the first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana when he won the 200m.
Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, who won the Olympic title by breaking his own pole vault world record, clearing 6.26 meters, was awarded the Male Field Athlete of the Year.
- The following are the World Athletes of the Year for 2024 winners:
Women’s World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Women’s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US)
Women’s field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)
Women’s out of stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED)
Men’s track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
Men’s out of stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH)
Women’s Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH)
Men’s Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA)