Sifan Hassan snubbed by World Athletics for Women’s Athlete of the Year

On Wednesday morning, World Athletics announced the 11 nominees for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year award. The list includes Kenyan distance running phenom Faith Kipyegon, Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol and 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson. Absent from the nominations was the London and Chicago Marathon champion and double 2023 world championships medallist Sifan Hassan.

World Athletics is pleased to confirm a list of 11 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year ✨#AthleticsAwards press release ⬇️

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 11, 2023

Hassan had a groundbreaking season, winning two major marathons (London and Chicago) in her first two attempts at the distance. Her time of 2:13:44 in Chicago broke the course record and is the second-fastest marathon time in the history of the women’s marathon. In Budapest, Hassan added two world championship medals, in the 1,500m and 5,000m, to her resume. (She was also poised to win with 100 metres to go in the 10,000m, until she took a spill just 40 metres from the finish.)

The 11 nominees were chosen by an international panel of athletics journalists and council representatives from World Athletics.

Track nominees

Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon
· Berlin marathon winner
· World marathon record–2:11:53

Femke Bol, NED, 400m/400m hurdles
· World 400m hurdles champion
· World indoor 400m record–49.26s

Shericka Jackson, JAM, 100m/200m
· World 200m champion and 100m silver medallist
· Diamond League 100m and 200m champion

Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1,500m/mile/5,000m
· World 1,500m and 5,000m champion
· World records at 1,500m and mile–3:49.11/4:07.64

Maria Perez, ESP, race walk
· World 20 km and 35 km race walk world champion
· World record at 35 km race walk

Sha’Carri Richardson, USA, 100m/200m
· World champion at 100m
· World bronze medallist at 200m

Gudaf Tsegay, ETH, 5,000m/10,000m
· World 10,000m champion
· Diamond League 5,000m champion
· World record in 5,000m–14:00.21

Winfred Yavi, BRN, 3,000m steeplechase
· World champion
· Diamond League champion with world leading time

Field nominees

Haruka Kitaguchi, JPN, javelin throw
· World champion
· Diamond League champion

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR, high jump
· World champion
· Diamond League champion

Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump
· World champion
· Diamond League champion

A three-way voting process will determine the five male and five female finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 13 and 14, with winners being announced on Dec.11. The World Athletics Council and Family will cast their votes via email, while fans can vote online via World Athletics social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The World Athletics Council vote will make up 50 per cent of the result, with 25 per cent coming from the World Athletics Family and the other 25 per cent from the public. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted this week, and a ‘like’ on Facebook and Instagram or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

Voting for the award will conclude at midnight on Oct. 31.

U.S. hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin won last year’s award.