Full list of nominees for Women's World Athlete of the year 2023 award

Published at :October 19, 2023 at 6:19 PM

Modified at :February 18, 2024 at 8:50 AM

(Courtesy : The Japan Times)

Ethiopia is the only country to have two representatives in the list.

World Athletics has announced the list of the 11 esteemed women’s athletes for the prestigious Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 award. The leading athletes of the season will be crowned on December 11 at the World Athletics Awards 2023. A total of 11 athletes from 10 different countries have been nominated for the award.

Ethiopia is the only country to have two representatives. The award was inaugurated in 1988 and this year will be the 36th edition of the award. The inaugural award was won by Florence Griffith Joyner of USA. Here’s the list of 11 athletes to have been nominated for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 award.

Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia)

World Marathon Champion

Tigist is a marathon runner and she recently broke the world record by taking more than two minutes off the previous world record. She clocked 2:11:53 at the BMW Berlin Marathon in September.

Femke Bol (Netherlands)

400m Hurdles World Champion
4x400m Relay World Champion
400m Hurdles Diamond League Winner
400m European Indoor Champion
4x400m relay European Indoor Champion
400m European Games Champion

Femke Bol started her season with a bang clocking sub-50 in the opening race of the season in 400m. She then smashed the long standing 400m world indoor record clocking 49.26s. After faltering in the mixed relay at the World Athletics Championships she came back stronger with a magnificent last leg to clinch gold in women’s 4x400m relay. Soon after she ended her season with a Diamond League title.

Shericka Jackson (Jamaica)

200m World Champion
100m and 200m Diamond League Winner

Sherica once again built on her legacy as one of the greatest sprinters in the world. She recorded the second fastest time in history clocking 21.41 seconds in 200m at the World Athletics Championships creating a new championship record. She became the first woman to break 21.60 thrice in a single season.

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)

1500m World Champion
5000m World Champion
1500m Diamond League Winner

The middle and long distance specialist, Faith Kipyegon broke the 1500m world record in her second race of the season by clocking 3.49.11. She then went on to break the 5000m world record by clocking 14:05:20.

Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan)

Javelin Throw World Champion
Diamond League Winner

The only Asian in the list Haruka Kitaguchi has established herself as World No. 1 this year. She started this year on a positive note with a world leading throw of 64.50m in her home soil. She then broke her own national record after registering a best throw of 67.04 in Silesia Diamond League.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine)

World Champion
Diamond League Winner
European Games Champions
European Indoor Champion

The 21-year-old high jumper won her third world championship medal this year. She has won a total of 15 competitions out of 17 this year and also has a world lead jump of 2.03m.

Maria Perez (Spain)

20km World Champion
35km World Champion

After a disappointing last year, Maria cameback stronger to win both the racewalking title at this year’s world championships. She smashed her own national record as she clocked 1:25:30 and also created a new world lead in 20km. She also broke the world record in 35km by clocking 2:37:15.

Sha’Carri Richardson (USA)

100m World Champion
4x100m World Champion

Shacarri made her debut at the global championships this year and she won a total of three medals with two being gold. She clocked the world leading time of 10.65 seconds in 100m at the world championships.

Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela)

Triple Jump World Champion
Diamond League Winner

The triple jumper from Venezuela enjoyed another undefeated season this year. She was however struggling at the world championships but managed to clutch at the last attempt by registering 15.08m to clinch the gold medal.

Winfred Yavi (Baharain)

World Champion
Diamond League Winner
Asian Games Champion

Having finished 4th in the last two editions of the world championships, The Bahranian finally managed to reach the podium and she did it with a style. She clocked the second fastest time in the women’s 3000m steeplechase by clocking 8:50:66 at the Diamond League finals. She then went on to win two gold medals at the Asian Games in the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase.

Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia)

1st in women’s 5000m in Rabat and London Diamond League
gold in 1000m at World Championships
1st in Diamond League finals

Tsegay started the season on a positive note winning medals in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. She clinched the top position in two Diamond League meets and wen to win the title at the year ender Diamond League finals.

World Athletics has initiated the voting process for the Athlete of the Year. The council’s vote carries a 50% weight in the result, while Athletics Family and public votes each contribute 25%. Fans can cast their votes on World Athletics’ social media platforms, with ‘likes’ and retweets counting as votes.

The top ten finalists (5 women and 5 men) will be unveiled on November 13-14, and the winners will be announced on December 11 through the social media handle.