2024 will forever be a memorable year for most athletes and fans, with records broken, world records set and competitive face-offs. Sifan Hassan is one of the athletes whose year was remarkable, and it is no surprise that she was named the Female World Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco, which took place over the weekend.
The middle and long-distance Dutch runner had a great show at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she scooped two bronze medals (5000m and 10000m) and one gold medal (Marathon). Sifan became the first woman Olympian to win three gold medals in all three different races.
She credited fellow athletes who brought the heat to the track in her award acceptance speech. “I am so grateful for this. It has been a crazy year, especially the Paris Marathon. Thank you everyone who voted for me. I never expected this,” she said.
Sifan also scooped the Women’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year 2024.
Other Awards
At the elite athlete convention in Monaco for the awards, other athletes were awarded in different categories.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) was awarded the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. The award comes after she beat her world record at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 400m hurdles. This is her second time winning an award at a prestigious event. In 2022, she also won the Female Athlete of the Year.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) won the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. The 23-year-old high jump athlete set a World record at the Paris Olympics games.
Sembo Almayew (ETH) was awarded the Women’s Rising Star. She scooped gold in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima Perú. At the Paris Olympics, she came in fifth place in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
The Award Ceremony
The World Athletics Awards ceremony takes place yearly. It brings together a blend of officials, athletes and other dignitaries from the athletics world to recognize and celebrate the year’s stellar performances. Usain Bolt (JAM) holds the record for the most awards received, winning World Athlete of the Year six times (2008, 2009, 20011, 2012, 2013 and 2016). Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (JAM) has the most awards among women, as she was awarded the Women’s Athlete of the Year (2013, 2015 and 2023).
