Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo: ‘Best Athletes’ of 2024

Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo from Botswana (200m) and Sifan Hassan from Ethiopia (marathon) were named “Athletes of the Year 2024” on Sunday by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) during its annual ceremony in Monaco. Four other athletes who excelled in the Paris Olympics were also honored.

Tebogo was recognized after becoming the first African sprinter to win the Olympic 200m gold in August in Paris, recording a time of 19.46 seconds, ahead of Americans Kenny Bednarek and the favorite Noah Lyles.

Tebogo said in a statement from the IAAF: “This means a lot to me, not just for my team, but also for all the fans who want us to win for the entire African continent.”

On the women’s side, Hassan won the award for her remarkable journey in the Paris Olympics. Over the course of ten days, she competed in the 5000m (both heats and final), 10000m, and the marathon, where she won three medals, including the marathon gold in a thrilling race against Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, the world record holder.

Hassan said: “I didn’t think I would win this award. This year has been crazy, and all athletes were at their peak.”

The IAAF also rewarded athletes who performed exceptionally in the Olympics, both in track and road races and in field events.

Swede Armand Duplantis, who remained unbeaten in pole vaulting in 2024, earned the award after achieving a perfect season with an Olympic gold medal and a new world record (6.26m).

Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, only 22 years old, won the award in the women’s category after breaking a 37-year-old world high jump record with a leap of 2.10m in July, followed by her Olympic gold medal a few weeks later.

Additionally, Letsile Tebogo and American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also received recognition. McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.37 seconds during her gold medal-winning performance at the Stade de France.

On the road, the IAAF also awarded Ethiopian marathon champion Tamirat Tola.