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World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations

Who has your vote?

World Athletics has announced the nominees for the 2024 Track Athlete of the Year, celebrating athletes who delivered exceptional performances across global competitions. Hereโ€™s a detailed look at each of the nominees.

World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 1

Womenโ€™s Track Athlete of the Year

World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 2

Julien Alfred ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡จ

Julien Alfred had a historic year in 2024, becoming Saint Luciaโ€™s first-ever Olympic gold medalist by winning the 100m at the Paris Olympics. Her journey started as a standout collegiate athlete at the University of Texas, where she was a six-time NCAA champion. This year, she built on her momentum by adding a World Indoor Championship 60m title to her achievements. Alfred is known for her incredible start and acceleration, which have propelled her to dominance in the sprints. Her victory in Paris with a time of 10.72 seconds marked her as one of the fastest women in history. She continues to be a trailblazer for Caribbean athletes on the world stage.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 100m champion
  • World Indoor 60m champion
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 3

Beatrice Chebet ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช

Beatrice Chebet established herself as the queen of long-distance running in 2024, capturing gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the Paris Olympics. Known for her consistent pacing and powerful finishing kick, Chebet also shattered the world record in the 10,000m, further cementing her legacy in the sport. This follows her success in 2022, where she won the World Cross Country Championships. Her ability to compete at the highest level in both track and cross-country events makes her one of the most versatile distance runners. At only 24 years old, Chebet has a bright future ahead and could dominate for years to come.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 5000m champion
  • Olympic 10,000m champion
  • World 10,000m record
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 4

Faith Kipyegon ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช

Faith Kipyegon continued her reign as the worldโ€™s top middle-distance runner in 2024, winning her third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 1500m. Earlier in the year, she broke her own world record in the event, running an astonishing 3:49.11. Kipyegon has been nearly unbeatable in recent years, consistently outpacing her competitors with tactical brilliance and a devastating final lap. She has also added range to her skillset, breaking the 5000m world record in 2023, showing her ability to dominate across distances. With her speed, endurance, and race intelligence, Kipyegon is one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 1500m champion
  • World 1500m record
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 5

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued to rewrite the history books in 2024 by defending her Olympic 400m hurdles title in Paris. She also anchored Team USA to victory in the 4x400m relay. Known for her technical mastery and raw speed, McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400m hurdles earlier this year with a time of 50.64 seconds. Her ability to seamlessly transition between the hurdles and open 400m has made her one of the most versatile sprinters in the sport. At only 25, she is already considered one of the greatest female hurdlers in history.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 400m hurdles champion
  • Olympic 4x400m champion
  • World 400m hurdles record
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 6

Marileidy Paulino ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ด

Marileidy Paulino had a stellar season in 2024, winning her first individual Olympic gold medal in the 400m at the Paris Olympics. Her rise in the sport has been rapid, following her silver medals in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In addition to her Olympic success, she claimed the Diamond League title, showcasing her consistency across the season. Known for her remarkable finishing speed, Paulino has become a dominant force in the 400m, and her achievements have inspired a new generation of athletes in the Dominican Republic.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 400m champion
  • Diamond League 400m champion
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 7

Gabby Thomas ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Gabby Thomas made a triumphant return to form in 2024, winning the 200m Olympic gold in Paris and contributing to Team USAโ€™s victories in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. After overcoming injury setbacks in 2023, Thomas showcased her resilience and talent on the biggest stage. A Harvard graduate, she combines intellect with athletic prowess, making her one of the most well-rounded athletes in track and field. Thomas is known for her smooth running style and top-end speed, and her versatility across both the 200m and relays has made her a vital member of Team USA.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 200m champion
  • Olympic 4x100m champion
  • Olympic 4x400m champion

Menโ€™s Track Athlete of the Year

World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 8

Rai Benjamin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Rai Benjamin secured double gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning the 400m hurdles and leading the USA to victory in the 4x400m relay. Known for his exceptional hurdling technique and top speed between the barriers, Benjamin was the world leader in the 400m hurdles throughout the season. His rivalry with Karsten Warholm has brought the event to unprecedented levels of excitement. Benjamin’s ability to perform on the biggest stages makes him one of the most reliable athletes in the sport.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 400m hurdles champion
  • Olympic 4x400m champion
  • World 400m hurdles leader
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 9

Grant Holloway ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Grant Holloway continued to dominate the sprint hurdles in 2024, winning his first Olympic gold in the 110m hurdles and breaking the world indoor record in the 60m hurdles. Holloway’s lightning-quick reaction times and flawless technique over the hurdles have made him the premier hurdler of his generation. A former NCAA champion, Holloway has seamlessly transitioned to the professional circuit, winning multiple world titles along the way.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 110m hurdles champion
  • World Indoor 60m hurdles champion
  • World 60m hurdles record
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 10

Jakob Ingebrigtsen ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ด

Jakob Ingebrigtsen once again proved his dominance on the world stage, winning Olympic gold in the 5000m and setting a new world record in the 3000m earlier in the year. Known for his tactical brilliance and ability to accelerate in the final stages of races, Ingebrigtsen is a force to be reckoned with across multiple distances. He has become Norwayโ€™s greatest-ever distance runner, consistently medaling at major championships since his teenage years.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 5000m champion
  • World 3000m record
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 11

Noah Lyles ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Noah Lyles, already a multiple-time world champion, added to his legacy by winning Olympic gold in the 100m at Paris 2024. Known for his explosive starts and top-end speed, Lyles also claimed a bronze in the 200m, further cementing his status as one of the best sprinters of his generation. His charisma off the track has made him a fan favorite, and he continues to be one of the most influential figures in track and field.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 100m champion
  • Olympic 200m bronze
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 12

Letsile Tebogo ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ผ

Letsile Tebogo became a trailblazer for African sprinting in 2024, winning the Olympic gold in the 200m and setting the world lead in the event. At just 21 years old, Tebogo has already made history by becoming the first African sprinter to win an Olympic title in a short-distance event. His rapid rise in the sport has made him one of the most exciting young talents to watch, and his performances this year have solidified his place as a global star.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 200m champion
  • World 200m leader
World Athletics Announces 2024 Track Athlete Of The Year Nominations 13

Emmanuel Wanyonyi ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช

Emmanuel Wanyonyi had a breakout year in 2024, winning Olympic gold in the 800m and capturing the Diamond League title. The 20-year-old middle-distance runner is known for his aggressive racing style and ability to maintain a fast pace throughout the two-lap race. Wanyonyiโ€™s victory in Paris confirmed his status as one of the brightest young talents in athletics, and his potential suggests he could dominate the 800m for years to come.

2024 Palmares:

  • Olympic 800m champion
  • Diamond League 800m champion

The voting for the finalists is currently open on World Athletics’ social media platforms, and the winners will be revealed later this year.

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Jessy Carveth

Senior News Editor

Jessy has been active her whole life, competing in cross-country, track running, and soccer throughout her undergrad. She pivoted to road cycling after completing her Bachelor of Kinesiology with Nutrition from Acadia University. Jessy is currently a professional road cyclist living and training in Spain.

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