Tebogo and Hassan Honored at World Athletics Awards

Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan, who collectively secured five medals at the Paris Games, were recognized as the male and female athletes of the year at the World Athletics Awards held in Monaco. Tebogo, additionally honored as the male track athlete of the year, made history as Botswana’s inaugural Olympic champion in Paris by securing victory in the 200m with an African record time of 19.46 seconds. The 21-year-old athlete further contributed to establishing a new African record by earning a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay. Tebogo stated, “It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes.” He added, “It was a great year. This means a lot.” Sifan Hassan, representing the Netherlands, secured bronze medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events in Paris. Subsequently, she claimed a gold medal in the women’s marathon, thereby becoming the first athlete in 72 years to achieve medals in all three of these events at a single Games. The 31-year-old athlete was also designated the female out of stadium athlete of the year. Concurrently, Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, who secured the men’s marathon gold in Paris, received the corresponding male award. Hassan commented, “I never thought I was going to win this one,” adding, “This year was crazy.” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American athlete, was awarded the female track athlete of the year prize. She achieved this after breaking her own world record en route to winning the 400m hurdles gold medal in Paris. Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, who surpassed his own world record while winning pole vault gold, was recognized as the male field athlete of the year. The female award in this category went to Ukrainian high jump gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh.