The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), in partnership with World Athletics, is again inviting fans across the world to nominate moments that epitomise fair play with a view to recognising one standout athlete or moment at the World Athletics Awards later this year.
Launching ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 taking place from 20-22 March, the nominations period includes all World Athletics Series events and the Ultimate Championship as well as Wanda Diamond League and World Athletics Continental Tour meetings throughout 2026.
A jury has been empanelled to review the nominations and select the three finalists.
<h3>Jury members</h3>
Valerie Adams &ndash; World Athletics Athletes&rsquo; Commission Chair Sally Pearson &ndash; Olympic and world 100m hurdles gold medallist Paula Radcliffe &ndash; former world marathon record-holder Jon Ridgeon &ndash; World Athletics CEO Sunil Sabharwal &ndash; International Fair Play Committee President Tim Van de Velde &ndash; 2025 Fair Play Award winner
Fans will then cast their votes through the World Athletics social media channels for the moment that they feel best exemplifies fair play. These votes will be combined with the votes from the jury to determine the winner of the Fair Play Award. The winner will be revealed at the World Athletics Awards later in the year.
To nominate an athlete or moment for the Fair Play Award, please email <a href="mailto:fairplayaward@worldathletics.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fairplayaward@worldathletics.org</a>.
Tim Van de Velde was the recipient of last year&rsquo;s award, following his selfless act to help another athlete during the 3000m steeplechase heats at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25. Carlos San Martin was injured during a fall earlier in their heat and, as they approached the finish line, Van de Velde decided to turn back to help San Martin to cross the finish line &ndash; fully aware that it might lead to his disqualification.
<h3>About CIFP</h3>
The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) is an IOC-recognised organisation founded in 1963 by UNESCO and leading international sports governing bodies. For more than 60 years, the CIFP has served as the global guardian of sporting ethics, honouring those who prioritise integrity and the human spirit over victory at any cost. Through its prestigious World Fair Play Awards and global educational initiatives, the CIFP ensures that the fundamental values of sport &ndash; respect, friendship, and fair play &ndash; are preserved for future generations. CIFP&rsquo;s first collaboration with World Athletics dates back to the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. Thirteen awards have been handed out since then. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.fairplayinternational.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.fairplayinternational.org</a>.
World Athletics

The nominations period includes all World Athletics Series events and Continental Tour events throughout the course of the year

World Athletics and CIFP invite fans to nominate fair play moments for 2026

At just 18 years of age, world hammer bronze medallist Zhang Jiale has already announced herself as one of the most exciting talents in the sport.
That status was underlined recently when she was named the World Athletics Rising Star Award winner &ndash; recognition that reflects not only a remarkable season, but the promise of what may still lie ahead.
Born in Zibo, in China&rsquo;s Shandong province, Zhang&rsquo;s rise has been both rapid and historic. But hammer throwing was not always part of the plan.
&ldquo;Before I started in athletics, I didn&rsquo;t even know what the hammer throw was,&rdquo; she admits. &ldquo;Most people are familiar with shot put, discus, or javelin, but hammer throw is less well known.&rdquo;
Zhang&rsquo;s introduction to the event came through her first coach, who saw something in her physical attributes &ndash; and perhaps something more.
&ldquo;My first coach chose this event for me based on my physical traits, but also because he felt it was my destiny or my fate.&rdquo;
That sense of destiny has since deepened under the guidance of Ye Kuigang, the coach behind an extraordinary lineage of Chinese hammer throwers. Zhang is the latest in a select group of Asian women to surpass 77 metres, joining Wang Zheng, Zhao Jie, Zhang Wenxiu and Zhang Jie. All were coached by Ye; all have won global medals; and together they have amassed 14 podium finishes at senior World Championships and Olympic Games.
Ye, himself a former international hammer thrower, two-time National Games champion and 2000 Asian silver medallist, has also overseen an exceptional level of sustained excellence. Four of the top 15 performers on the women&rsquo;s hammer world all-time list have emerged from his stable, placing Zhang firmly within one of the most productive coaching legacies the event has known.
Zhang&rsquo;s own rise gathered momentum in 2024. She won the Asian U20 title near the start of the season, then went on to claim the world U20 crown later that year &ndash; performances that confirmed her status as the leading hammer thrower of her generation and marked the transition from junior standout to senior contender.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6969181e3d3f3fd7bbadfc40.jpg" alt="Zhang Jiale at the World U20 Championships in Lima" />
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Zhang Jiale at the World U20 Championships in Lima (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,CiAgICA8c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjE2IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjE2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDgwIDM2MCI+CiAgICAgIDxnIHRyYW5zZm9ybT0idHJhbnNsYXRlKDAsMzYwKSBzY2FsZSgwLjEsLTAuMSkiIGZpbGw9IiNCMkIyQjIiPgogICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xOTA1IDMxODIgYy0xMjYgLTQ0IC0xODcgLTEwMCAtMjUzIC0yMzMgbC00NyAtOTQgLTM1MCAtNSBjLTMyNiAtNQogICAgICAgIC0zNTQgLTYgLTQwMSAtMjYgLTE0NyAtNjAgLTI0NiAtMTgwIC0yNzQgLTMzMSAtMTQgLTc2IC0xNCAtMTY1OSAwIC0xNzM0IDMxCiAgICAgICAgLTE2NyAxNzMgLTMxMyAzMzggLTM0OCAzNyAtOCA0NzYgLTExIDE0OTAgLTExIDE1NDMgMCAxNDgwIC0yIDE1ODggNTAgMTA0IDUxCiAgICAgICAgMjAwIDE4MSAyMjQgMzA1IDggNDMgMTAgMzAwIDggOTEwIGwtMyA4NTAgLTIzIDU2IGMtNDcgMTEyIC0xNDEgMjA2IC0yNTIgMjUyCiAgICAgICAgLTUyIDIxIC03MiAyMiAtNDA1IDI3IGwtMzUwIDUgLTQ2IDk1IGMtNTQgMTEyIC0xMDYgMTY2IC0yMDcgMjEzIGwtNjcgMzIKICAgICAgICAtNDYwIDIgYy00MTYgMyAtNDY1IDEgLTUxMCAtMTV6IG05NzIgLTIzNyBjMTggLTEzIDUyIC02OCA5MyAtMTUwIDQyIC04MyA3NQogICAgICAgIC0xMzcgOTMgLTE1MCAyNyAtMTkgNDcgLTIwIDQxNSAtMjUgNDM4IC02IDQyNyAtNCA0ODcgLTg5IGwzMCAtNDMgMyAtODM2IGMyCiAgICAgICAgLTYxMCAwIC04NDggLTggLTg3NiAtMTcgLTU2IC01NCAtMTAyIC0xMDQgLTEyNSAtNDIgLTIxIC01MSAtMjEgLTE0ODggLTIxCiAgICAgICAgbC0xNDQ1IDAgLTQ0IDIzIGMtMjkgMTYgLTU0IDQwIC03NCA3MiBsLTMwIDQ4IDAgODUxIGMwIDg0NCAwIDg1MSAyMSA4OTEgMTEKICAgICAgICAyMiA0MCA1NCA2MyA3MCBsNDMgMzAgMzg4IDUgYzM2OSA1IDM5MCA2IDQxNyAyNSAxOCAxMyA1MCA2NCA4OCAxNDEgMzMgNjcgNjcKICAgICAgICAxMjkgNzUgMTM5IDM2IDQzIDUzIDQ1IDUxMiA0MiA0MjIgLTIgNDM4IC0zIDQ2NSAtMjJ6Ii8+CiAgICAgICAgPHBhdGggZD0iTTIzMDAgMjQ1MSBjLTM4MiAtNTQgLTY3MSAtMzYzIC02OTcgLTc0NiAtMjEgLTMxOCAxNjEgLTYyNyA0NTIKICAgICAgICAtNzY2IDEyNiAtNjAgMTg5IC03NCAzNTAgLTc0IDExOSAwIDE1MSA0IDIxNSAyMyAyNzYgODcgNDgwIDI5NiA1NTYgNTcyIDI1CiAgICAgICAgOTAgMjYgMjk5IDEgMzkwIC03OCAyODggLTMwMCA1MDkgLTU4OSA1ODQgLTcxIDE4IC0yMTYgMjcgLTI4OCAxN3ogbTI3MCAtMjQ5CiAgICAgICAgYzE5NyAtNjggMzM0IC0yMTQgMzg1IC00MDcgNzQgLTI4NyAtMTA0IC01OTkgLTM5MCAtNjg0IC0xMDEgLTMwIC0yNjcgLTI3CiAgICAgICAgLTM2MCA3IC0xNzQgNjQgLTMyNyAyNDAgLTM2NCA0MjAgLTYyIDMwNSAxMzUgNjA4IDQzOSA2NzcgODIgMTkgMjE1IDEyIDI5MAogICAgICAgIC0xM3oiLz4KICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgPC9zdmc+CiAgICA=" alt="photographer icon" /> Oscar Munoz Badilla)
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Her dominance is illustrated clearly in the record books. Zhang owns the 10 longest throws ever achieved by an U20 athlete, a level of statistical separation that mirrors the way hammer legend Anita Wlodarczyk has come to define the senior event. Already, Zhang sits 15th on the senior world all-time list, an extraordinary position for a teenage athlete in a discipline that often favours older and more experienced throwers.
Zhang&rsquo;s ascent has been defined by composure as much as distance. When reflecting on her bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 &ndash; on her senior global debut &ndash; Zhang spoke candidly about managing nerves on the biggest stage.
&ldquo;I was a bit nervous in the qualifying round. It was my first time competing in front of so many passionate spectators,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;But by the final, I&rsquo;d adjusted. I told myself, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve already made the final. Anything more is a bonus.&rsquo; So I felt much more relaxed.&rdquo;
That mindset delivered a medal &ndash; and a benchmark moment in her young career.
&ldquo;I was very surprised! Getting a bronze at my first World Championships &ndash; what a high starting point,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t want to put too much pressure on myself going forward. I just want to keep surpassing myself.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6969187a3d3f3fd7bbadfc43.jpg" alt="Zhang Jiale at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25" />
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Zhang Jiale at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Dan Vernon)
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At home, Zhang draws inspiration from those who came before her. Training alongside senior teammates such as Wang and Zhang Wenxiu has been formative.
&ldquo;Once I learned about our sport and how strong Chinese athletes are internationally, they became my role models,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;When I joined my coach&rsquo;s team and trained with them, they taught me a lot. They&rsquo;ve always been my examples to learn from.&rdquo;
She now finds herself part of a compelling domestic rivalry with compatriot Zhao Jie, her training partner and fellow world medallist. While Zhao leads their career head-to-head 21-1, the gap has narrowed significantly this year. Just half a metre separated them at the World Championships, exactly one metre at the National Games &ndash; and in Schoenebeck in June, Zhang defeated Zhao outright.
It is a rivalry that signals both depth and momentum within Chinese women&rsquo;s hammer throwing.
Looking ahead, Zhang&rsquo;s ambitions extend beyond medals already won. Competing at the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 is a particularly vivid target.
&ldquo;Competing at home means I&rsquo;ll have more support from our own people,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like being a kid on stage with your whole family in the audience applauding. And I love that kind of stage.&rdquo;
Ultimately, her goals are as bold as they are historic.
&ldquo;No Asian woman has ever thrown beyond 80 metres,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;China also hasn&rsquo;t yet won a World Championships or Olympic gold in the women&rsquo;s hammer. I think these are the goals for our new generation.&rdquo;
With a Rising Star award already in hand and a world U20 record to her name, Zhang Jiale may be closer than anyone before her to turning those goals into reality.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

At just 18 years of age, world hammer bronze medallist Zhang Jiale has already announced herself as one of the most exciting talents in the sport.

Rising Star Zhang carries China’s hammer tradition into a new era

Kenya&rsquo;s Edmund Serem has been left feeling even more motivated after securing the Rising Star honour at the World Athletics Awards in December.
At the age of 17 years and 262 days, Serem became the youngest male athlete to ever win an individual medal at the World Athletics Championships when he clinched 3000m steeplechase bronze behind Geordie Beamish and Soufiane El Bakkali in Tokyo.
During a highly successful year, the teenager was also runner-up in the Wanda Diamond League final and achieved top four finishes in four other Diamond League meetings &ndash; including at the Herculis in&nbsp;Monaco where he clocked a PB of 8:04.00 to move to fifth on the world U20 all-time list.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/696649cdfb1497a7f3553387.jpg" alt="Edmund Serem crosses the finish line to claim steeplechase bronze at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25" />
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Edmund Serem crosses the finish line to claim steeplechase bronze at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (&copy; Getty Images)
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It was also in Monaco that Serem received recognition for those achievements at the end of 2025.
&ldquo;For me, Monaco has been the best. I ran my personal best here and today I receive this award,&rdquo; he said during the World Athletics Awards, where he received his trophy from world pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis, the 2018 Rising Star winner who regained the Men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year award later that evening.
&ldquo;I am honoured to receive it,&rdquo; added Serem. &ldquo;I am grateful. As young as I am, I promise to do well in future and to do everything possible to win even the Athlete of the Year award.&rdquo;
Serem&rsquo;s season started at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, where he finished fourth. He was then runner-up in Shaoxing/Keqiao and placed third in Rabat before winning at the Kip Keino Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, in Nairobi.
His PB and third-place finish in Monaco came next, followed by a win at the Kenyan trials for Tokyo, a second-place finish in the Diamond League final in Zurich and finally that bronze medal at the World Championships.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69664a98ed1fad6908a015bc.jpg" alt="Edmund Serem at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco" />
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Edmund Serem at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco (&copy; Diamond League AG <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Chiara Montesano)
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As well as becoming the youngest individual male medallist in World Championships history, Serem continued Kenya&rsquo;s streak of claiming at least one medal in the 3000m steeplechase at every edition of the World Championships since the event was last held in Tokyo in 1991. As a result, he followed in the footsteps of his coach Patrick Sang, who secured silver at that edition in Tokyo.
&ldquo;My season was good,&rdquo; reflected Serem, who stepped up to the senior stage in 2025 after winning the world U20 title in 2024. &ldquo;It was my first time competing in the Diamond League this year. It was my first time running under 8:10 and my first time running under 8:05 in the steeplechase, and so I think this year will be the start of my future &ndash; I'll be remembering this year.&rdquo;
A year that was capped by that Rising Star award win.
&ldquo;This is special,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Being recognised by World Athletics is special and really motivates you to do more. This shows you that when you do well, people recognise you, and these awards motivate you to be hungry for more.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/696649bcfb1497a7f3553384.jpg" alt="Edmund Serem with his fellow world steeplechase medallists Geordie Beamish and Soufiane El Bakkali" />
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Edmund Serem with his fellow world steeplechase medallists Geordie Beamish and Soufiane El Bakkali (&copy; Getty Images)
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But he recognises that he didn&rsquo;t do it alone. As well as coach Sang, Serem&rsquo;s support network includes his family, particularly his father and his older brother Amos, the 2021 world U20 3000m steeplechase champion.
&ldquo;Our father had a great passion for athletics but didn't get enough support at the time,&rdquo; Edmund told World Athletics <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/feature/edmund-serem-steeplechase-kenya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during an interview in 2024</a>. &ldquo;He has provided Amos and me with everything we&rsquo;ve needed, telling us, &lsquo;I don't want you to lack anything as I did during my time&rsquo;.&rdquo;
Having that support meant Edmund&rsquo;s World Championships medal felt even more significant.
&ldquo;Of course, there was a very big celebration, mostly from my father,&rdquo; he said, reflecting on the reaction to his world bronze. &ldquo;Everybody, all my family, they were watching me, they were happy. After the race, they sent me the video of them celebrating, and I was also very happy that I didn't let them down.&rdquo;
Both Amos and Edmund are guided by Sang in Kaptagat and train together, despite being in two different camps. Given his family&rsquo;s athletics passion, Edmund doesn&rsquo;t need to look far for inspiration, but there is another figure in his life who is also on hand to offer advice should the 18-year-old ever need it.
&ldquo;My mentor is Eliud Kipchoge,&rdquo; explained Edmund, who has been inspired by the Kenyan marathon great. &ldquo;I would like to follow in his footsteps and inspire the next generation.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/67586729ab6fc1c9eb2d064c.jpg" alt="Edmund Serem wins the world U20 steeplechase title in Lima" />
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Edmund Serem wins the world U20 steeplechase title in Lima (&copy; Oscar Munoz Badilla)
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While Edmund will still be young enough to defend his title at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 in August, his focus is on competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and running a personal best this year.
And he already has some advice for other rising stars looking to emulate him on the U20 stage.
&ldquo;What I can tell them is to work hard, be consistent, have perseverance,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and when they are in that race, they must have confidence and believe in their training, believe in their coach &ndash; have faith that that they can do it.&rdquo;
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

At the age of 17 years and 262 days, Edmund Serem became the youngest male athlete to ever win an individual medal at the World Athletics Championships

Press Release16 Mar 2026

World Athletics and CIFP invite fans to nominate fair play moments for 2026

Jury members

About CIFP

World Athletics and CIFP invite fans to nominate fair play moments for 2026

Rising Star Zhang carries China’s hammer tradition into a new era

Rising Star award just the start for steeplechaser Serem