A season of historic achievement by 21-year-old <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Letsile Tebogo</a> was richly acknowledged in Monaco on Sunday (1) as he was announced as the men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024.
Tebogo, who also accepted an award as men&rsquo;s track athlete of the year, earned Botswana&rsquo;s first Olympic gold medal in any sport as he won the 200m at the Paris Games in an African record of 19.46.
The next day he helped Botswana reach the men&rsquo;s 4x400m final, where his extraordinary final leg earned silver behind the United States in an African record of 2:54.53. His split of 43.04 is among the fastest ever recorded.
Tebogo&rsquo;s Paris showing &ndash; which was marked with a national holiday &ndash; had begun with a sixth-place finish in the 100m final in a national record of 9.86.
Speaking on stage at the Theatre Princesse Grace in Monaco, Tebogo &ndash; who had dedicated his Olympic performances to his late mother Seratiwa &ndash; said: &ldquo;It feels good to know that what you have been putting in throughout the year is now giving you some of the fruits that you have been waiting for. I&rsquo;m grateful for the team that was around me.&rdquo;
Looking ahead, he added: &ldquo;I believe the next year is going to be a different Letsile; he&rsquo;s going to be a changed and a mature one.&rdquo;
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<h2>Tebogo&rsquo;s 2024 in numbers</h2>
 Your 200m win in Paris was a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana. How does it feel to make that kind of history and have a national holiday declared in your honour?
&ldquo;It was a great feeling. I didn&rsquo;t expect the President to give out a holiday in my honour, but it was one of the greatest feelings ever. When I went into that race, the first thing I thought was changing the perspective of Africa from being a long-distance continent into being a short-distance continent. I looked at a lot of factors and I knew I had everything in me to make it happen.
&ldquo;So that made me more hungry to succeed. The night before the final I had to set down why I had started in this journey and what I wanted to achieve. At the end of the Olympic Games, would I achieve what I wanted to achieve? So that&rsquo;s how I came to my conclusion. And I also thought that a lot of people were relying on me to make everything happen.&rdquo;
 You won the Olympic 200m title in an African record of 19.46. You also ran nine sub-20 second 200m races this season. How important was this consistency to your performance in Paris and how were you able to achieve it?
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t even count how many 19-second races I ran in this season. Because it was Olympic year, there was just that drive in me that wanted to keep on going, even though we had to cut some races. But if it was nine times, I believe it. It showed we were really on the right track and that this was just the beginning.
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t change anything in training &ndash; it was just a combination of things I have been working on. It was the same environment, the same places across the continents. Nothing has really changed in our training sessions. The confidence came in from the 200m. So that&rsquo;s how we went about it.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/674f14025e34d95ffccfafe7.jpg" alt="Letsile Tebogo at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco" />
Letsile Tebogo at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco (&copy; Getty Images)
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At the World Athletics Relays in May you ran a split of 43.72 to help Botswana win the 4x400m. And when you ran the anchor leg to help Botswana earn Olympic silver you clocked 43.04. Were you surprised at what you managed to achieve, and how do you rate the relay successes?
&ldquo;In Paris I was supposed to run the final only but we had an injury and we had to look at the options. They chose me to hand over the baton in the heats. They said I should just jog out the race but when I saw the splits it was really crazy.
&ldquo;The day of the final was the one we had all been waiting for and I was ready to give it my best. When we found out I had split 43-zero it was just crazy and we couldn&rsquo;t believe it. Looking at how many times I had run during the Olympics, it showed that we were really hungry for that medal.
&ldquo;It meant more because it was a group thing. From the beginning of the camp, that is what we had locked ourselves in for. We were happy with the silver because it was an improvement from the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully in LA 2028 we will get the gold medal.&rdquo; 
You set two national records in the 100m &ndash; 9.88 in London and 9.86 in the Olympic final. You also set a world 300m best of 30.69 in Pretoria. How do you see your career progressing &ndash; will it involve the 100m and 200m, or the 200m and 400m, or all of them?
&ldquo;I think for now it will be all of them. I don&rsquo;t want to limit myself into a particular event. I just want to leave it open so that I know when I am training that they can use me again in the 400m, not just be the sprints guy.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/674def34290bce3928afddd5.jpg" alt="Letsile Tebogo at the World Athletics Awards 2024" />
Letsile Tebogo at the World Athletics Awards 2024 (&copy; Sona Maleterova)
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You are only 21 and you have achieved so much already. What would you hope to have on your CV at 31?
&ldquo;I would just like to be in the history books as the youngest guy to ever do it, at 21 or 22 or whenever.&rdquo;
 Your mum was your number one. How did you manage to achieve what you did in a year when she so sadly died?
&ldquo;I think firstly I am grateful for the team that was around me &ndash; my teammates, my coach, my family members. Because when my mother passed away, I thought it was the end of my career. Because there was no drive in me. But I remember one day I was asked: &lsquo;Just come and watch us train.&rsquo; So I did that, and I started getting more interested again to get back into the sport.&nbsp;It was a really tough balance, but I&rsquo;m glad that when my mother saw that it was coming to an end, she to me: &lsquo;I have tried to be strong my son, now it is your turn.&rsquo; So I think she was preparing me for what was going to happen.
&ldquo;It was not an easy journey and it was not an easy thing for me to overcome. I had to also be there for my little sister, be there for myself. My sister is 12. I don&rsquo;t think she is going to follow in my footsteps because she is more into swimming, but she is proud of me.&rdquo;
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics

A season of historic achievement by 21-year-old Letsile Tebogo was richly acknowledged in Monaco as he was announced as the men’s World Athlete of the Year

World Athlete of the Year Letsile Tebogo's 2024 – in numbers

Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo have been announced as World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024 in Monaco.
Following a vote by fans, Hassan and Tebogo received top honours on an evening that saw six athletes crowned in three categories &ndash; track, field and out of stadium &ndash; before the overall two winners were revealed.
Tebogo was confirmed as men&rsquo;s track athlete of the year, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone receiving the women&rsquo;s honour. Hassan claimed the women&rsquo;s out of stadium crown and Tamirat Tola the men&rsquo;s, while Mondo Duplantis and Yaroslava Mahuchikh were named field athletes of the year.
This year&rsquo;s Rising Stars were also celebrated, with Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani receiving recognition.
<h3>World Athletes of the Year for 2024</h3>
Women&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED) Men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Women&rsquo;s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) Women&rsquo;s field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) Women&rsquo;s out of stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED) Men&rsquo;s track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT) Men&rsquo;s field: Mondo Duplantis (SWE) Men&rsquo;s out of stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH)
Women&rsquo;s Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH) Men&rsquo;s Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA)
Watch the full 2024 World Athletics Awards show exclusively on Inside Track:<a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/674d8ca46b6a1bb5c8c6c1a3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/674e2e99005014a8550afdfa.jpg" alt="Watch the full 2024 World Athletics Awards show exclusively on Inside Track" /></a>
&ldquo;At the end of what has been a stellar year for athletics, we are delighted to reveal our list of World Athletes of the Year &ndash; both in their respective disciplines and overall,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. &ldquo;This group of athletes represents the very best of our sport and has this year redefined what is possible in terms of athletic performance.
&ldquo;Our 2024 cohort set new standards in heights, speed and distance, including six world records and a host of Olympic and national records between them.
&ldquo;I congratulate all our award winners, and all of the athletes nominated for these honours, and I thank them for inspiring us all with their performances this year.&rdquo;
World Athletes of the Year Hassan and Tebogo both won gold and claimed multiple medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Dutch star Hassan&rsquo;s medal treble in Paris was capped by her winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55.&nbsp;That performance came just 37 hours after Hassan claimed bronze in the 10,000m, and six days after her first medal in the French capital &ndash; also bronze &ndash; in the 5000m.
As a result, she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Games, and the first athlete since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men&rsquo;s titles in Helsinki in 1952.
Tebogo also made history in Paris when he won the 200m, as he claimed a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana. He ran an African record of 19.46 &ndash; a time that moved him to fifth on the world all-time list &ndash; and that performance followed his sixth-place finish in the 100m final. He went on to form part of Botswana&rsquo;s silver medal-winning men&rsquo;s 4x400m team.
He dipped under 20 seconds for 200m a total of nine times in 2024, with those performances topped by his Olympic title-winning mark which remained the fastest of the year.
His fellow track athlete of the year, McLaughlin-Levrone, improved her own world 400m hurdles record twice, to 50.65 and 50.37, and claimed Olympic gold in that event as well as in the 4x400m. Tola, who joined Hassan in being named out of stadium athlete of the year, won the Olympic marathon title in Paris in an Olympic record.
World records were set by both field athletes of the year. Mahuchikh cleared 2.10m to improve the world high jump record before winning Olympic gold, while Duplantis revised his own world pole vault record three times, eventually taking it to 6.26m, and won the Olympic title.
"Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted," said Hassan, who was in Monaco to receive her two awards. "I never thought I was going to win this one. This year was crazy. It&rsquo;s not only me &ndash; all the athletes have been amazing. I&rsquo;m really grateful. What more can I say?"
Standing alongside Hassan on the stage at the Theatre Princesse Grace, Tebogo said: "It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes. It was a great year.
"This means a lot," he added. "It&rsquo;s not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent. It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn&rsquo;t expect this."
During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember last year&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s out of stadium athlete of the year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road traffic accident in February, as well as other figures from the sport who have passed away in 2024.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/674ca0695a7474627ee8ce71.JPG" alt="World Athletics Awards 2024" />
World Athletics Awards 2024 (&copy; World Athletics)
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<h2>Almayew and Furlani named Rising Stars of 2024</h2>
Not only did Sembo Almayew and Mattia Furlani achieve great things as U20 athletes in 2024, they both also secured success on the senior stage.
Almayew finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics, going close to her own national U20 record with her 9:00.83 performance, before she travelled to Lima where she won the world U20 title, setting a championship record in the process. With that win, the 19-year-old became the first ever Ethiopian world U20 women&rsquo;s steeplechase champion.
Furlani improved the world U20 long jump record to 8.38m at the European Championships on home soil in Rome to secure silver, and he won two more senior major medals at the World Indoor Championships, where he got another silver, and the Olympic Games, where he claimed bronze.
In Glasgow &ndash; at the age of 19 years and 24 days &ndash; Furlani became the youngest athlete ever to win a world indoor medal in the horizontal jumps.
<h2>Knight wins President&rsquo;s Award</h2>
The winner of the President&rsquo;s Award was also announced in Monaco on Sunday (1), with Nike co-founder Phil Knight receiving the honour in recognition of his constant inspiring support for athletics and the development of the sport.
The President's Award, first awarded in 2016, recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics. Past winners of the award include the Ukrainian Athletics Association, British journalist Vikki Orvice, Swiss meeting director Andreas Brugger, Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt, the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and 1968 men&rsquo;s 200m medallists Tommie Smith, Peter Norman and John Carlos for their iconic moment on the podium in Mexico.
&ldquo;Phil Knight&rsquo;s passion for athletics is pretty much lifelong,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;He developed an almost father-son relationship with his coach, the legendary Bill Bowerman, whose training approach was a departure from the orthodoxies of the day and who not only guided Knight&rsquo;s career on the track but became a central figure when Phil took his first tentative steps in the running shoe business that became the dominant global force Nike.
&ldquo;His love of athletics runs through Nike. It is a business created and driven by runners, with Phil never afraid to be the front runner.&rdquo;
Knight said: &ldquo;Thank you, Seb Coe, for the ultimate honour of the President&rsquo;s Award, given by World Athletics. I am in great company, with Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and Usain Bolt. Obviously, I didn&rsquo;t run as fast as those guys, but I am in such high company that I am thrilled by the award. Track and field has always been an important part of Nike &ndash; it has always been a central part of who Nike is.
&ldquo;I do think running will continue to grow. Not only does Seb and his team do a great job promoting the sport, but it is a sport that not only is enjoyable, but it is probably the best fitness activity you can do. So, for me to win this honour, it is very meaningful.&rdquo;
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<h2>Other award winners</h2>
Coaching Achievement Award <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/coaching-achievement-award-2024-trevor-painter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trevor Painter</a>
Woman of the Year <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/woman-of-the-year-2024-renee-washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renee Washington</a>
Photograph of the Year <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/photograph-year-award-2024-michael-steele" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Steele</a>
Member Federation Award <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/member-federation-award-2024-usatf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Track &amp; Field</a>
 World Athletics

Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Letsile Tebogo have been announced as World Athletes of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2024 in Monaco

Hassan and Tebogo named World Athletes of the Year

USA Track &amp; Field has been named as winner of the Member Federation Award, the fourth honour announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The Member Federation Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself in its accomplishments throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport. Six federations were shortlisted for this year&rsquo;s award, each nominated by one of the six area associations, before USA Track &amp; Field was selected as the winner.
&ldquo;On behalf of USA Track &amp; Field, I am deeply honoured to accept the World Athletics Member Federation Award,&rdquo; said USA Track &amp; Field CEO Max Siegel. &ldquo;This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication, talent and teamwork of our entire USA Track &amp; Field family - our staff, our coaches, our athletes, members and volunteers who strive for excellence every day.&rdquo;
The US team finished top of the medal table at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, securing 34 medals, 14 of them gold. Those gold medal-winning performances included world records by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles and by the mixed 4x400m team. The team&rsquo;s Olympic performance in Paris was driven by a diverse range of medals in sprints, jumps and throws.
The federation also showcased its strength on the field of play by achieving top spot on the medal tables at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24. In Lima the team claimed 16 medals, including eight gold, and in Glasgow the team&rsquo;s tally was 20 medals, six of them gold.
One of the key factors behind these successes has been the implementation of an athletics development programme that covers all categories and events. From youth to elite levels, USATF has created a structure that identifies, nurtures and supports talents across the country, providing athletes with access to quality coaching, high level facilities and opportunities to compete.
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&ldquo;2024 has been a truly remarkable year, filled with extraordinary achievements, personal bests and historic milestones on the global stage. I&rsquo;m incredibly proud of the journey we have taken together at USATF, showcasing our dominance on the track and field, from the World U20 Championships to the Paris Olympic Games and the World Masters Championships,&rdquo; added Siegel.
&ldquo;But this award reflects not only our accomplishments on the field, but also the values that drive us as an organisation, including integrity, inclusivity, leadership, innovation and an unwavering commitment to being the gold standard in everything that we do.&nbsp;
&ldquo;As we close out this unforgettable year, I&rsquo;m confident that the momentum from 2024 will carry us into a thrilling 2025. In less than four years, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring the world to our doorstep, providing a once-in-a-lifetime chance to elevate our sport and highlight the extraordinary talent of our athletes on home soil. USATF remains committed to advancing the sport, empowering the next generation of champions and leading with excellence.&rdquo;
Further World Athletics Awards announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

USA Track & Field has been named as winner of the Member Federation Award, the fourth honour announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024

United States wins Member Federation Award

Michael Steele&rsquo;s image of Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan colliding during the women&rsquo;s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been selected as the World Athletics Photograph of the Year.
The third award announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, the World Athletics Photograph of the Year shines a spotlight on some of the outstanding images captured by professional photographers.
From the 114 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Mathieu Forget, Pascal Rondeau and Christian Taylor &ndash; narrowed the entries to <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/digital-exhibition-2024-photograph-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">11 shortlisted images</a> and <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/finalists-2024-photograph-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three finalists</a> before deciding on the winner.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b828f74549a2448fee5d6.jpg" alt="Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Michael Steele)
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&ldquo;Many thanks for this award and the time given by the judges, and especially to World Athletics for the continuing support for all the international photographers who are shooting athletics throughout the season,&rdquo; said Steele, whose photo captures Ethiopia&rsquo;s Assefa and Hassan of the Netherlands during the final stages of the marathon.
&ldquo;It was especially nice to capture this picture in the final event of the athletics schedule at the Olympics in Paris this summer,&rdquo; added Steele. &ldquo;It was quite an incredible finish to the women&rsquo;s marathon, with Hassan and Assefa battling for gold.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d found this position 200 metres away from the finish line and there were huge swarms of people gathered either side of the rails. When they came around this final bend, they were just locked together. How they didn&rsquo;t fall to the ground &ndash; they actually collided with each other on the inside of the rail. Hassan took the inside, but they managed to stay on their feet.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Hassan just sprinted from that moment on, to the finish line, and nothing was going to deny her gold. It was a nice moment to capture.&rdquo;
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Steele has been a professional sports photographer since 1986 and has worked as a staff photographer at Getty Images since 1999. Athletics is one of the many different sports that he covers.
Further World Athletics Awards announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

Michael Steele’s image of Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan colliding during the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been selected as the World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Steele captures World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Renee Washington has been named Woman of the Year as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
Washington receives the honour in recognition of the work she has done to promote the advancement of gender equity in athletics, particularly in her role as chief operating officer at USA Track &amp; Field (USATF).
Her achievements include pioneering new USATF initiatives for women and mothers in the sport. With a goal of removing barriers to competition for all athletes, she spearheaded a partnership with period product supplier August to provide menstrual hygiene products for athletes.&nbsp;
Washington has also implemented expanded maternity support for track and field athletes and championed increased benefits including medical expense reimbursements, competitive opportunities support, funding to attend events and coaching stipends.
In her role at USATF, Washington manages the organisation's record $40 million budget and 68-person national staff. Alongside the USATF CEO, she spearheads a mentorship group to support elite athletes for life after their sports careers end, by providing them with the necessary tools to successfully transition info life after sport. She also sits on the board of the Indianapolis Chapter of WISE (Women in Sports and Events) and participates in panel discussion on topics impacting women and young professionals in the workforce.&nbsp;
Under her guidance and leadership at the national governing body, Washington has strived to provide childcare stipends and support at USATF competitions, so women do not need to choose between their family and their career.&nbsp;
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Alongside her work at USATF, Washington has served on various boards and working groups addressing key issues affecting international sport, including the World Athletics Women&rsquo;s Committee and the USOPC Council for Racial and Social Justice. She is a member of the World Athletics Executive Board Remuneration Committee, with gender equity being a primary focus.
Washington has been a guest on the Business Case for Women&rsquo;s Sports podcast to discuss how USATF addresses gender equity and supports female athletes. She also featured in Diverse Representation&rsquo;s National Black Women in Sports Day, which celebrates black women in the sports industry and advocates for greater representation.
&ldquo;I am deeply humbled and incredibly honoured to accept the World Athletics Woman of the Year Award,&rdquo; said Washington. &ldquo;2024 has been an unforgettable year for our sport, filled with groundbreaking achievements and historic moments from the grassroots to the elite level. I am so proud to be acknowledged for the work I get to do each and every day at USA Track &amp; Field.&nbsp;
&ldquo;To me, this award symbolises the power of intentional leadership &ndash; leadership that ensures everyone, regardless of their background or position, is seen, heard, valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. I am so energised by what lies ahead for our sport. Together, we are creating a future where athletics is not only a platform for competition, but a powerful force for representation and inspiration. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported and championed me throughout this journey.&rdquo;
The Woman of the Year Award is the second honour announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024. Further World Athletics Awards announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

Renee Washington receives the honour in recognition of the work she has done to promote the advancement of gender equity in athletics, particularly in her role as chief operating officer at USA Track & Field

Washington wins Woman of the Year Award

Trevor Painter has received the Coaching Achievement Award, becoming the first winner to be announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The British coach has been guiding athletes for almost a quarter of a century. He has coached more than 30 athletes to international level, including the women&rsquo;s 800m champion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Keely Hodgkinson.
Painter is the founder and head coach of the M11 Track Club, a professional track &amp; field team based in Manchester, UK, that specialises in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events. The team currently includes 19 international athletes &ndash; eight of those competed at the Paris Games and three won Olympic medals in the French capital.
Following her three successive silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the past two World Championships, Painter guided Hodgkinson to her first senior global gold as she won the 800m at the Paris Olympics in 1:56.72. She had gone into the race as the favourite to win, having clocked a world-leading British record of 1:54.61 at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in London &ndash; a time that has remained the fastest of the year and moved Hodgkinson to sixth on the world all-time list.
Two places behind Hodgkinson in London was her fellow Painter-coached athlete Georgia Bell, who ran a PB of 1:56.28 &ndash; the fourth-fastest time of the year &ndash; and went on to claim Olympic 1500m bronze in Paris in a British record of 3:52.61. That performance completed a remarkable return for Bell, who made a comeback after quitting athletics in 2017.
Painter&rsquo;s third Olympic medallist in Paris was Lewis Davey, who formed part of GB&rsquo;s bronze medal-winning men&rsquo;s 4x400m team after claiming world silver and bronze relay medals in Budapest in 2023.
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Passionate about the work he undertakes and the mentorship he provides, Painter has also become an ambassador in helping athletes to transition from their own professional careers into coaching. One of Painter&rsquo;s first major successes was coaching his wife Jenny Meadows to world 800m bronze in 2009 and she now works alongside Painter as a coach at the M11 Track Club.
Other athletes and coaches to have been mentored by Painter include Paralympic medallist Graeme Ballard, world relay medallist Kirsten McAslan, nine-time Danish champion Annemarie Nissen, Darren Borthwick, Danny Kevan and Aneta Lemiesz.
The Coaching Achievement Award recognises coaches who have made outstanding achievements and contributions to develop, encourage and strengthen coaching at all levels in athletics.
As well as his work guiding some of the world&rsquo;s best athletes, Painter regularly speaks at conferences and on podcasts, both nationally and internationally. He achieved his MSc in Elite Coaching Practice at the University of Central Lancashire.
&ldquo;2024 has been such a wonderful debut year for M11 Track Club, with many standout performances,&rdquo; said Painter. &ldquo;In Paris, we achieved more than our wildest dreams. Keely finally getting that gold was a wonderful start to the week and then for Georgia Bell to add a bronze in the women&rsquo;s 1500m followed by a men&rsquo;s 4x400m bronze for Lewis Davey, it turned into an incredible week.
&ldquo;I would like to thank everybody at World Athletics for this award. It&rsquo;s a huge honour to join some of the legendary names that have won this in the past. I would also like to thank everyone that has helped behind the scenes with M11 Track Club, none more so than my wife, Jenny Meadows. Hopefully we can continue to build on what the team has already achieved.&rdquo;
The Coaching Achievement Award is the first of the honours celebrated as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024. Further announcements will be made this weekend, with the World Athletes of the Year and Rising Stars being revealed on Sunday (1 December).
World Athletics

Trevor Painter has received the Coaching Achievement Award, becoming the first winner to be announced as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024

Painter receives Coaching Achievement Award

Ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024, a digital exhibition has been created featuring the 11 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year.
From the 114 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Mathieu Forget, Pascal Rondeau and Christian Taylor &ndash; selected the below 11 shortlisted images and then the three finalists.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/finalists-2024-photograph-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finalists were announced on 19 November</a> and the winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
<h2>Digital exhibition of shortlisted images</h2>
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745b8ced0141397ef7ec3d8.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi after the 10,000m at the 2024 Olympic Games" />
Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia after finishing the 10,000m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Sona Maleterova
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745b965d0141397ef7ec3db.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Noah Lyles of USA crosses the line to win 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics" />
Noah Lyles of United States crosses the line to win 100m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Photo by Agustin Marcarian / Reuters
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bbf25838b6af69ddb76f.jpg" alt="Markus Rooth, Janek Oiglane, Lindon Victor, Rik Taam and Karel Tilga compete in the decathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympics" />
Markus Rooth of Norway, Janek Oiglane of Estonia, Lindon Victor of Grenada, Rik Taam of Netherlands and Karel Tilga of Estonia compete in the 110m hurdles during the decathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Photo by Joel Marklund / Bildbyran
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bc185838b6af69ddb772.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) Leo Neugebauer lands after a successful jump on way to decathlon silver in Paris" />
Leo Neugebauer of Germany lands after a successful jump on his way to the decathlon silver medal in Paris Photo by Dylan Martinez
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b826674549a2448fee5d3.JPG" alt="Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Photo by Mattia Ozbot
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bcf85838b6af69ddb775.jpg" alt="Mondo Duplantis of Sweden in action while clearing 6.25m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris" />
Mondo Duplantis of Sweden in action while clearing 6.25m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Casey Sims
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bd555838b6af69ddb778.jpg" alt="Mondo Duplantis after breaking his own pole vault world record at the Silesia Diamond League meeting" />
A surprised Mondo Duplantis after breaking his own pole vault world record when he cleared 6.26m at the second attempt at the Silesia Diamond League meeting Photo by Pawel Skraba
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b828f74549a2448fee5d6.jpg" alt="Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands collide during the women's marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Esplanade des Invalides Photo by Michael Steele / Getty Images
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745bdea021a2e6c015748be.jpg" alt="(Photo of the Year 2024 shortlist) The women&rsquo;s 10,000m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris" />
Sunset during the women&rsquo;s 10,000m final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Photo by Jaroslav Svoboda
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b82c974549a2448fee5d9.JPG" alt="Noah Lyles celebrates with his 100m gold medal during the medal ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Noah Lyles of USA celebrates with his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the men&rsquo;s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Photo by Anna Szilagyi / EPA Images
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6745be3f021a2e6c015748c1.jpg" alt="Tommy Murphy gestures to Charlie Cummins during the primary boys mile race at the 2024 Cork City Sports athletics meet" />
Tommy Murphy from Beaumont Primary School gestures to Charlie Cummins of St Joseph&rsquo;s National Boys Cobh on the home stretch of the primary boys mile race at the 2024 Cork City Sports athletics meet Photo by Morgan Treacy / INPHO
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A digital exhibition has been created featuring the 11 images shortlisted for World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Digital exhibition: 2024 World Athletics Photograph of the Year shortlisted images

Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The Member Federations Award recognises a Member Federation that has distinguished itself in its accomplishments throughout the year and, as a result, positively contributed to the growth and profile of the sport. The shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations.
The winner will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The six nominees, listed alphabetically, are:
<h3>Ghana (Ghana Athletics Association, Africa)</h3>
In March, Ghana&rsquo;s capital city of Accra held the African Games, where winners included the host nation&rsquo;s Joseph Amoah in the 200m, and Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah and Evans Yamoah in the high jump.
The federation in Ghana has been very active in the Western Region and has ensured the organisation of major competitions in the area. 
<h3>India (Athletics Federation of India, Asia)</h3>
The Athletics Federation of India further developed its Coaches Education Programme in 2024. Offering three progressive courses, the programme is designed to elevate the quality of athletics coaching across the country. Since its launch, more than 3000 coaches have completed the AFI Pre Level 1 course, making a significant impact on grassroots coaching.
The federation is also working to broaden the reach of its Kids' Athletics programme. Notably, its U14 programme has seen significant success, with more than 4000 annual participants and the introduction of Kids Javelin. 
<h3>Paraguay (Federacion Paraguaya de Atletismo, South America)</h3>
Federacion Paraguaya de Atletismo will complete the first half of its second strategic plan in 2024, with four areas of work &ndash; events, collaborators, public and alliances &ndash; being implemented.
Athletes from Paraguay won an unprecedented number of South American Championships medals, including one gold each at U20 and U23 level, while training for schoolteachers was organised as part of Kids&rsquo; Athletics. Other achievements include the organisation of JEEN (National School Games) and the South American School Games, collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Paraguay Olympic Committee, and continued 4x100m relay development. 
<h3>Portugal (Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo, Europe)</h3>
Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo organised three major events in 2024: the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) U20 Clubs in Pombal, the European Throwing Cup in Leiria and the ECCC Cross Country in Albufeira, with a participation record at the latter and strong online exposure at all three events.
Portugal also achieved an increase in club numbers and total members, with 145 new clubs and more than 1400 new members, while the nation&rsquo;s athletes gained one medal at the Olympic Games and three medals at the European Championships. 
<h3>Solomon Islands (Athletic Solomons, Oceania)</h3>
Athletic Solomons had a successful year in 2024, following its hosting of the Pacific Games in November 2023 and the nation&rsquo;s involvement in the Sport Inclusion Australia Programme.
The Pacific Games marked the largest gathering of its kind ever hosted in the country and led to significant improvements in sports facilities as well as a sense of unity and national pride, encouraging more youth participation in athletics. The Sport Inclusion Australia Programme, in partnership with Oceania Athletics, aimed to create inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition, the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme in the Solomon Islands has made significant strides, focusing on promoting physical activity, inclusivity and overall wellbeing among children. 
<h3>United States (USA Track &amp; Field, NACAC)</h3>
US athletes achieved 34 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, securing the top spot on the medal table, with performances including world records by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400m hurdles and by the mixed 4x400m team. The team&rsquo;s Olympic performance in Paris was driven by a diverse range of medals in sprints, jumps and throws.
The federation also showcased its strength by achieving first place in the medal tables at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24. One of the key factors behind these successes has been the implementation of an athletics development programme that covers all categories and events.
World Athletics

Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award

Nominees announced for 2024 Member Federations Award

The three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
From the 114 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Valerie Adams, Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Mathieu Forget, Pascal Rondeau and Christian Taylor &ndash; narrowed the entries to 11 shortlisted images before deciding on the three finalists.
Photographers from 46 countries across all six continental areas submitted entries.
The shortlisted images will form part of a digital exhibition on the World Athletics website that will go live later this month.
The winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.
<h2>The finalists</h2>
&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b826674549a2448fee5d3.JPG" alt="Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Mattia Ozbot</h3>
Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b828f74549a2448fee5d6.jpg" alt="Tigist Assefa and Sifan Hassan collide during the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Michael Steele</h3>
Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands collide during the women's marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Esplanade des Invalides
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<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/673b82c974549a2448fee5d9.JPG" alt="Noah Lyles celebrates with his 100m gold medal during the medal ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" /></div>
<h3>Anna Szilagyi</h3>
Noah Lyles of USA celebrates with his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the men&rsquo;s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France
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<h2>About the photographers</h2>
Mattia Ozbot (ITA) A freelance photographer based in Milan, Ozbot specialises in sports photography and has covered the Olympic Games, European Football Championship and most major international sporting events around the world. Using his dynamic style, he always seeks new perspectives with creative and emotional images.
Michael Steele (GBR) Steele has been a professional sports photographer since 1986 and has worked as a staff photographer at Getty Images since 1999. Athletics is one of the many different sports that he covers.
Anna Szilagyi (HUN) Szilagyi has worked as a staff photographer for the European Pressphoto Agency in Munich since 2023. Before that, she was a stringer for the Associated Press in Budapest, where she was born.
World Athletics

The three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected

Finalists announced for 2024 World Athletics Photograph of the Year

World Athletics is delighted to announce the three finalists for the 2024 Women's Rising Star Award, which will recognise this year's best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The nominations reflect some of the standout performances that the sport has witnessed this year, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, World Athletics U20 Championships, World Athletics Cross Country Championships, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The winner of the 2024 Women's Rising Star Award will be announced on World Athletics' platforms on 1 December.
<h3>The finalists are:</h3>
Sembo Almayew, Ethiopia &bull; World U20 3000m steeplechase champion &bull; Olympic fifth place
Angelina Topic, Serbia &bull; World U20 high jump champion &bull; Olympic finalist and World Indoor Championships fifth place
Yan Ziyi, China &bull; World U20 javelin record &bull; World U20 champion
World Athletics

The Women's Rising Star Award will recognise this year's best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2024

Finalists announced for 2024 Women's Rising Star Award

World Athletics is delighted to announce the three finalists for the 2024 Men's Rising Star Award, which will recognise this year's best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2024.
The nominations reflect some of the standout performances that the sport has witnessed this year, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, World Athletics U20 Championships, World Athletics Cross Country Championships, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The winner of the 2024 Men's Rising Star Award will be announced on World Athletics' platforms on 1 December.
<h3>The finalists are:</h3>
Mattia Furlani, Italy &bull; World U20 long jump record &bull; World indoor silver and Olympic bronze
Jaydon Hibbert, Jamaica &bull; World U20 triple jump lead &bull; Olympic fourth place
Niels Laros, Netherlands &bull; World U20 1000m record &bull; Olympic 1500m sixth place
World Athletics&nbsp;

The Men's Rising Star Award will recognise this year's best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2024

Finalists announced for 2024 Men's Rising Star Award

As the World Athletics Awards 2024 draws near, we shine a spotlight on the 12 finalists &ndash; six women and six men &ndash; in contention for the World Athlete of the Year awards.
Each category &ndash; track, field and out of stadium &ndash; features two finalists. A <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/finalists-2024-athlete-year-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">final round of voting</a> &ndash; cast by fans of the sport &ndash; remains open until 10 November to decide the overall World Athletes of the Year.
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/saint-lucia/julien-alfred-14646562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Julien Alfred (LCA)</a> Women&rsquo;s track athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66ae861b2660cc527628268f.jpg" alt="Julien Alfred celebrates her 100m win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Julien Alfred celebrates her 100m win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Getty Images)
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Julien Alfred won Saint Lucia&rsquo;s first ever senior global medal in athletics when she stormed to the world indoor 60m title in Glasgow in March and she went on to become her nation's first Olympic medallist in any sport, getting 100m gold in Paris in August.
She left the French capital with 200m silver to go with her 100m title. In the shorter event she ran a national record of 10.72 to win and in the 200m she clocked 22.08 to secure silver.
&ldquo;It means a lot to me, my coach, my country, which I&rsquo;m sure is celebrating now,&rdquo; Alfred said after her 100m win. &ldquo;Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling. With no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place. I hope this gold medal will help Saint Lucia build a new stadium, to help the sport grow.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/ruth-chepngetich-14766298" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruth Chepngetich (KEN)</a> Women&rsquo;s out of stadium athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/670c3feb0010abfb6f3ee1aa.jpg" alt="Ruth Chepngetich wins the Chicago Marathon" />
Ruth Chepngetich wins the Chicago Marathon (&copy; Getty Images)
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Ruth Chepngetich took almost two minutes off the world record when she won the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56 in October.
Becoming the first woman to break 2:10 for 26.2 miles, she secured her third Chicago Marathon victory and a more than four-minute PB. Remarkably, only nine athletes went quicker in the men&rsquo;s race. Her performance also included a split of 1:04:16 at halfway.
&ldquo;I feel so great. I&rsquo;m very proud of myself,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/sweden/armand-duplantis-14679502" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mondo Duplantis (SWE)</a> Men&rsquo;s field athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66ba2ff7ef1a40229353912f.jpg" alt="Mondo Duplantis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Mondo Duplantis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Mattia Ozbot)
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Mondo Duplantis improved the world pole vault record three times in 2024, meaning he has now revised the global mark 10 times since his first world record in Torun in 2020.
He also retained his Olympic and world indoor titles, winning gold in Paris with one of those world records as he cleared 6.25m to add a centimetre to the height he achieved at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Xiamen in April. He went on to soar 6.26m at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia after the Olympics in August.
&ldquo;The biggest dream since I was a kid was to break the world record at the Olympics,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ve been able to do that in front of the most ridiculous crowd I&rsquo;ve ever competed in front of.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/sifan-hassan-14489606" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sifan Hassan (NED)</a> Women&rsquo;s out of stadium athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66b876a82e7428bd3b9f8eba.jpg" alt="Sifan Hassan wins Olympic marathon gold in Paris" />
Sifan Hassan wins Olympic marathon gold in Paris (&copy; Getty Images)
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Sifan Hassan achieved a medal treble at the Olympics in Paris, winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55.&nbsp;
That record run came just 37 hours after Hassan claimed bronze in the 10,000m, and six days after her first medal in the French capital &ndash; also bronze &ndash; in the 5000m.
As a result, she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Games, and the first athlete since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men&rsquo;s titles in Helsinki in 1952.
&ldquo;When I finished, the whole moment was a release,&rdquo; Hassan said after her marathon win. &ldquo;It is unbelievable. I have never experienced anything like that.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/norway/jakob-ingebrigtsen-14653717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)</a> Men&rsquo;s track athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66cb435fc9580bd274d7431e.jpg" alt="Jakob Ingebrigtsen breaks the world 3000m record in Silesia" />
Jakob Ingebrigtsen breaks the world 3000m record in Silesia (&copy; Marta Gorczynska)
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Jakob Ingebrigtsen became Olympic 5000m champion in Paris and followed that with a world record performance over 3000m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia two weeks later.
In Paris, Ingebrigtsen ran a final lap of 53.2 and reached the finish line in 13:13.66 to take the 5000m title. It was the second consecutive Olympics in which Ingebrigtsen had earned a gold medal, joining his 1500m gold from Tokyo.
Then, in Silesia, Ingebrigtsen shattered one of the longest standing track world records, running 7:17.55 to take more than three seconds off the 3000m mark set by Daniel Komen in 1996.
&ldquo;I was hoping to challenge the world record here, but based on my training, I can never predict exactly what kind of time I am capable of,&rdquo; he said in Silesia. &ldquo;I would not have imagined I could run 7:17, though.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ukraine/yaroslava-mahuchikh-14739628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)</a> Women&rsquo;s field athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/668aaf135e7b38f835e73def.JPG" alt="Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the high jump in Paris" />
Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the high jump in Paris (&copy; Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
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Yaroslava Mahuchikh also claimed Olympic gold and set a world record in 2024. Her world high jump record came first as she improved one of the longest-standing marks on the books when she cleared 2.10m at the Meeting de Paris &ndash; part of the Wanda Diamond League &ndash; on 7 July.
That added one centimetre to the world record set by Stefka Kostadinova at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.
She went on to win the Olympic title on her return to Paris in August. A perfect scorecard up to 2.00m, which she also cleared on her first attempt, secured her the title on countback.
&ldquo;Coming into this competition, I had feelings that I could jump 2.07m and maybe 2.10m,&rdquo; said Mahuchikh after her world record. &ldquo;Finally, I signed Ukraine to the history of world athletics.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sydney-mclaughlin-14624749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)</a> Women&rsquo;s track athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66b51d47bf69ac267d0e3bf0.jpg" alt="Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets a world 400m hurdles record at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets a world 400m hurdles record at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Getty Images)
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone retained her Olympic 400m hurdles title in style as she took 0.28 off her own world record by clocking 50.37 in Paris.
It was the sixth world record of her career, following her first of 51.90 set in Eugene in 2021.
She returned to the track two days later to form part of USA&rsquo;s gold medal-winning women&rsquo;s 4x400m team, running the second leg in 47.71 as the quartet clocked 3:15.27 - the second-fastest time in history.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s amazing to see our sport continue to grow, for people to want to watch the 400m hurdles,&rdquo; she said after her 400m hurdles performance. &ldquo;I knew it was going to be a tough race. An amazing competition all the way round.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ecuador/brian-daniel-pintado-14409996" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Pintado (ECU)</a> Men&rsquo;s out of stadium athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66ab49aa6c0f51c2bacbd0fc.jpg" alt="Brian Pintado on his way to winning the men's 20km race walk at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Brian Pintado on his way to winning the men's 20km race walk at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
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Brian Pintado became a double Olympic medallist in Paris, winning the 20km race walk title and then securing marathon race walk mixed relay silver six days later.
His 20km win in 1:18:55 saw him claim the first athletics gold medal of the Games. He also secured his country's first Olympic gold medal in athletics since fellow race walker Jefferson Perez won gold in the same discipline at the 1996 Olympics.
He then teamed up with Glenda Morejon to finish second in the inaugural Olympic marathon race walk mixed relay.
&ldquo;It was insane,&rdquo; said Pintado after his 20km race walk win. &ldquo;In the last few metres, I realised I was completely alone, and seeing the finish line I just kept thinking, &lsquo;I'm the Olympic champion, it's me&rsquo;.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Letsile Tebogo (BOT)</a> Men&rsquo;s track athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66eaf894ce7e9d9fd5ae5a26.jpg" alt="Letsile Tebogo wins the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Letsile Tebogo wins the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Getty Images)
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In winning the 200m title at the Paris Olympics, Letsile Tebogo claimed a first ever Olympic gold medal in any sport for Botswana.
He ran an African record of 19.46 &ndash; a time that moved him to fifth on the world all-time list &ndash; and that performance followed his sixth-place finish in the 100m final. He went on to form part of Botswana&rsquo;s silver medal-winning men&rsquo;s 4x400m team.
&ldquo;It was really a beautiful race for me,&rdquo; he said after the 200m final. &ldquo;When we made it to the final, my coach just told me: &lsquo;Now my job is done, it&rsquo;s up to you to see what you can do. Whether it&rsquo;s a medal or not, just finish the race healthy.&rsquo; That&rsquo;s all I could have wished for. I&rsquo;m happy I finished the race healthier than before.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/greece/miltiadis-tentoglou-14669734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE)</a> Men&rsquo;s field athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65e315654c60d7cd53643853.jpg" alt="Miltiadis Tentoglou at the WIC Glasgow 24" />
Miltiadis Tentoglou at the WIC Glasgow 24 (&copy; Dan Vernon)
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Miltiadis Tentoglou won two global gold medals in 2024, retaining his world indoor long jump title in Glasgow and then successfully defending his Olympic title in Paris.
In Glasgow, Tentoglou secured top spot in an incredibly close contest. With just one centimetre separating the three medallists, it matched the 2012 edition for the closest ever World Indoor Championships long jump final. Tentoglou won on countback after soaring a best of 8.22m.
He then jumped 8.48m in Paris to become the first man since four-time winner Carl Lewis in 1996 to retain the Olympic long jump title.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great achievement," said Tentoglou after his Olympic title win. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t think my jump was going to be enough because the other guys are very talented and capable. I was pushing throughout to do more.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/belgium/nafissatou-thiam-14428253" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nafissatou Thiam (BEL)</a> Women&rsquo;s field athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66b610ee066d51af39c77bfd.jpg" alt="Nafissatou Thiam at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Nafissatou Thiam at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Dan Vernon)
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Nafissatou Thiam retained her Olympic heptathlon title in Paris, becoming the first combined events athlete in history to win three Olympic gold medals.
After her victories in Rio and Tokyo, her score of 6880 secured her the top spot in Paris. It is the highest of all her Olympic title-winning scores and ended the season as the world lead.
Her performance included an outdoor PB of 15.54m in the shot put and an 800m PB of 2:10.62.
&ldquo;In sports you give everything you have in every moment,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;You have to take whatever the sport gives you, and it can be nothing. But today it&rsquo;s a lot, and I&rsquo;m grateful for that.&rdquo;
<h3><a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ethiopia/tamirat-tola-14589459" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tamirat Tola (ETH)</a> Men&rsquo;s out of stadium athlete of the year finalist</h3>
<div> <img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66b72e51553963b671cc1242.jpg" alt="Tamirat Tola wins the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games" />
Tamirat Tola wins the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (&copy; Christel Saneh for World Athletics )
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He might have been called into the Ethiopian team for Paris as a late replacement, but Tamirat Tola made the very most of the opportunity as he won the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:06:26.
Racing over the demanding course in challenging hot conditions, Tola improved on the previous Olympic record of 2:06:32 set at the Beijing 2008 Games by Sammy Wanjiru.
&ldquo;I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay (Lemma) had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfil my dream. I am happy to do that today.&rdquo;

As the World Athletics Awards 2024 draws near, we shine a spotlight on the 12 finalists in contention for the World Athlete of the Year awards

World track athlete of the year Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 2024 – in numbers

World field athlete of the year Mondo Duplantis’s 2024 – in numbers

World field athlete of the year Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s 2024 – in numbers

Skotheim wins International Fair Play Award

World Athlete of the Year Sifan Hassan's 2024 – in numbers