<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The winner of the 2024 Women's Rising Star Award will be announced on World Athletics' platforms on 1 December.</p>
<h3>The finalists are:</h3>
<p><strong>Sembo Almayew, Ethiopia</strong><br />&bull; World U20 3000m steeplechase champion<br />&bull; Olympic fifth place</p>
<p><strong>Angelina Topic, Serbia</strong><br />&bull; World U20 high jump champion<br />&bull; Olympic finalist and World Indoor Championships fifth place</p>
<p><strong>Yan Ziyi, China</strong><br />&bull; World U20 javelin record<br />&bull; World U20 champion</p>
<p><strong>World Athletics</strong></p>

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

<p>Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award ahead of the <strong>World Athletics Awards 2024</strong>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The winner will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.</p>
<p>The six nominees, listed alphabetically, are:</p>
<h3>Ghana (Ghana Athletics Association, Africa)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The federation in Ghana has been very active in the Western Region and has ensured the organisation of major competitions in the area.<br /><br /></p>
<h3>India (Athletics Federation of India, Asia)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>
<h3>Paraguay (Federacion Paraguaya de Atletismo, South America)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>
<h3>Portugal (Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo, Europe)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>
<h3>Solomon Islands (Athletic Solomons, Oceania)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br /></p>
<h3>United States (USA Track &amp; Field, NACAC)</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>World Athletics</strong></p>

Six finalists have been nominated for the Member Federations Award

Nominees announced for 2024 Member Federations Award

<p>The three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected ahead of the <strong>World Athletics Awards 2024</strong>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Photographers from 46 countries across all six continental areas submitted entries.</p>
<p>The shortlisted images will form part of a digital exhibition on the World Athletics website that will go live later this month.</p>
<p>The winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024.</p>
<h2>The finalists</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<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>
<p><em>Mondo Duplantis in pole vault action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<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>
<p><em>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</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<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>
<p><em>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</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>About the photographers</h2>
<p><strong>Mattia Ozbot (ITA)</strong><br />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.</p>
<p><strong>Michael Steele (GBR)</strong><br />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.</p>
<p><strong>Anna Szilagyi (HUN)</strong><br />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.</p>
<p><strong>World Athletics</strong></p>

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

Press Release12 Nov 2024

Finalists announced for 2024 Women's Rising Star Award

The finalists are:

Nominees announced for 2024 Member Federations Award

Finalists announced for 2024 World Athletics Photograph of the Year

Finalists announced for 2024 Women's Rising Star Award