Kipyegon nominated for Women's World Athlete of the Year award

Faith Kipyegon will battle 11 athletes for the 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year award after being nominated for the prestigious accolade on Wednesday by World Athletics.

Kipyegon had a remarkable track season this year, where she won the 1,500m and 5,000m World titles during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest,

In addition to that, the 29-year-old star broke three World titles in 1,500m, 5,000m and one mile.

Kipyegon broke Genzebe Dibaba’s mark to win the 1500m in a record time of 3:49.11 on 2 June, before running a blistering 14:05.20 in the Paris Diamond League for the 5000m record - one that was later usurped by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay - who ran 14:00.21 in the Eugene Diamond League meeting.

She also broke the women’s mile world record when she timed 4:07.64 in the Monaco Diamond League.

Kipyegon will battle for the award with 10 other athletes who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

In what has been another memorable year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, one-day meeting circuits, Label road races and other events around the world.

World 3000m steeplechase and Diamond League champion Winfred Yavi, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa who recently broke the women’s world marathon record in Berlin and Gudaf Tsegay are some of the front runners for the ward.

Others include world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson, Diamond League 100m and 200m champion Shericka Jackson, and World 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists. The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on 11 December.

2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year nominees

Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon
· Berlin marathon winner
· World marathon record

Femke Bol, NED, 400m/400m hurdles
· World 400m hurdles champion
· World indoor 400m record

Shericka Jackson, JAM, 100m/200m
· World 200m champion and 100m silver medallist
· Diamond League 100m and 200m champion

Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m
· World 1500m and 5000m champion
· World records at 1500m, mile and 5000m

Haruka Kitaguchi, JPN, javelin
· World champion
· Diamond League champion

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR, high jump
· World champion
· Diamond League champion

Maria Perez, ESP, race walk
· World 20km and 35km race walk world champion
· World record at 35km race walk

Gudaf Tsegay, ETH, 5000m/10,000m
· World 10,000m champion
· Diamond League 5000m champion with world record

Sha’Carri Richardson, 100m/200m
· World champion at 100m
· World bronze medallist at 200m

Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump
· World champion
· Diamond league champion

Winfed Yavi, BRN, 3000m steeplechase
· World champion
· Diamond League champion with world lead