Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, did not secure a spot in the final shortlist for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year Award, as revealed by World Athletics.
On Wednesday, World Athletics introduced 11 nominees for the esteemed award. The list includes three Africans: Tigist Assefa and Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia, and Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon.
Last year, Amusan etched her name in history by becoming the first Nigerian nominee for this award. However, she did not clinch the title, losing to 400m hurdles record holder, Sydeny McLaughlin.
In a spectacular show last month, Amusan clinched the 100m women’s hurdles in 12.33s, maintaining her Diamond League title. This feat made her only the second woman to win three 100m hurdles titles consecutively in the Diamond League, tying with Dawn Nelson-Harper’s record.
Moreover, at last year’s World Championships in Eugene, Amusan stunned the world by winning the 100m hurdles gold. She set a new world record in the semi-final, clocking 12.12 seconds. This victory crowned her the first Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event. She also bagged gold medals in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relays at the Commonwealth Games.
The nominee list this year boasts five world record breakers, spearheaded by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who shattered three world records in 2023. The other nominees include Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, Dutch athlete Femke Bol, and Maria Perez. Gudaf Tsegay, the world 10,000m champion, also made the list after breaking Kipyegon’s 5000m world record during the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon.
The list also features other notable athletes, including Shericka Jackson, Haruka Kitaguchi, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Yulimar Rojas, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Winfed Yavi.
World Athletics will conclude voting for the Athlete of the Year on October 28. Votes will come from the World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family, and the public. The Council’s vote will comprise 50% of the result, while the Family’s and the public’s votes will contribute 25% each.
World Athletics will announce the finalists on November 13-14, revealing the winners on their social media platforms on December 11.
