Faith Kipyegon nominated for 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year

Kenya’s 1500metres sensation Faith Kipyegon is line to be crowned the 2023 Women’s Athlete of the Year after being among the 11 nominees shortlisted for the award by World Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.

Kipyegon is viewed as the frontrunner to bag the award after an incredible 2023 season that saw the 29-year-old become the first woman in history to clinch a hat-trick of 1500m crowns when she won gold in the Budapest World Championship held in August.

The double Olympic champion then delivered another masterclass, this time in the 5,000m, to win her second gold in the Hungarian capital as she became the first woman in history to win the 1500-5000m double at a World Championship event.

The performances in Budapest followed other stunning results where she broke the 1500m world record, 5000m record and the mile record in a space of two months. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay however snatched the 5000m record from Kipyegon in September.

In the list of eleven athletes, Kipyegon is expected to face stiff competition from Tsegay, USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson, triple jump ace Yulimar Rojas and Jamaican sprintster Shericka Jackson among others.

“World Athletics is pleased to confirm a list of 11 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year. These athletes 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 Athletics posted.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms.

Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube this week; a 'like' on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on X will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result.

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Saturday 28 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics on 13-14 November.

The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on 11 December.

The nominees for 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year are (in alphabetical order):

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