World Athletics’ Athletes of the Year nominees revealed

Posted by Nationwide Newsnet | 8 Oct, 2026

The 20 nominees for World Athletics’ Male and Female Athletes of the Year have been revealed.

Ten men, led by world record holders Alison dos Santos of Brazil and Ja’Kobe Tharp of the USA; and 10 women, led by another 2026 world record breaker, Masai Russell of the USA, will battle for the sport’s biggest individual awards on November 29.

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, who improved his world pole vault record, Josh Kerr of Great Britain who set the mile world record, Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana who improved the Diamond League 400 meter record three times this season and dipped below 44 seconds six times, are among those in a tough men’s field.

Meanwhile, Russell will be challenged by Switzerland’s Diamond League and Ultimate 800 metre star Audrey Werro and American sprint star Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

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