World Athletics has named the five female finalists in the running for the 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year. The award winner will be announced on December 11, 2023, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.
In this article, we’ll dive into who has been named a finalist and what they’ve accomplished.
It would be hard to talk about standout performances this year without bringing up Tigist Assefa.
Tigist Assefa, Ethiopia, Marathon
Ethiopian marathon runner Tigist Assefa had a breakthrough year in 2023 after shattering the women’s marathon world record at the Berlin Marathon.
26-year-old Assefa bettered the previous women’s world record by over two minutes when she won her second consecutive Berlin Marathon in 2:11:53.
The previous record of 2:14:04, set by Brigid Kosgei at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, stood for nearly four years.
Femke Bol, Netherlands, 400m/400m Hurdles
Dutch track star Femke Bol has been consistently on the top step of the podium this year.
23-year-old Bol has yet to lose in the 400-meter hurdles and was also crowned world champion in the event earlier this year in Budapest.
Bol also set the world record in the women’s indoor 400-meter event after running 49.85 at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in March this year.
Femke Bol was also part of the Dutch women’s 4x400m relay team that won the World Athletics Championship in Budapest earlier this year.
Shericka Jackson, Jamaica, 100m/200m
Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson had a sensational year, achieving sensational results across a range of sprint disciplines this year.
At the World Athletics Championships earlier this year in Budapest, Jackson took the title in the 200m and placed second in the 100m.
At the August World Athletics Championships, Jackson set the second-fastest women’s 200m time in history, running 21.41.
Jackson has narrowly missed the 1988 women’s world record in the 200m set by Florence Griffith Joyner multiple times this season but has broken many meet records in her wake.
Jackson was also crowned the Diamond League champion in the 100m and the 200m.
Faith Kipyegon, Kenya, 1500m/Mile/5000m
Faith Kipyegon is no stranger to standing on the podium at international competitions.
This year, the 29-year-old Kenyan set three world records this year in the 1500m (3:49.11), 5000m (14:05.20), and the mile (4:07.64).
Kipyegon also prevailed at the World Athletics Championships this past August in Budapest in the 1500m (3:54.87) and the 5000m (14:53.88).
She would also place third in the road mile at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships hosted in Riga, Latvia.
Additionally, Kipyegon took multiple wins at Diamond League meets throughout the season.
Yulimar Roja, Venezuela, Triple Jump
28-year-old Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas has had a dominant season.
Rojas took the world title in August at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest after jumping 15.08.
Rojas also won the triple jump event at the Diamond League Final and secured several victories at Diamond League meets throughout the season.
With less than one month until the winner of the 2023 Women’s World Athletics Athlete of the Year is announced, who do you think it will be? Is there anyone missing from the list who you thought would be here?
Let us know below!
