World Athletics (WA) made an announcement yesterday, revealing the candidates for the Women’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. Surprisingly, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the record holder in the 100m hurdles and a reigning champion in Nigeria, Africa, and the Commonwealth, is notably absent from the list.
It’s worth noting that last year, Tobi Amusan made history as the first Nigerian athlete to ever be nominated for this prestigious award.
She made it to the final five, narrowly losing out to the World 400m hurdles champion and record holder, Sydeny McLaughlin.
Unfortunately, due to Amusan’s inability to successfully defend her world title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, coupled with the emotional turmoil surrounding her provisional suspension for three Whereabouts Failures, it seems her remarkable performance in the Diamond League wasn’t sufficient to secure a spot on the recently unveiled list by World Athletics.
The list of 11 nominees is headlined by five individuals who have broken world records in various events.
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the World 1500m and 5000m champion, notably set three world records in 2023 in the 1500m, one mile, and 5000m.
Among the nominees, you’ll also find Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who established a world marathon record and triumphed in the Berlin Marathon.
Femke Bol, a Dutch athlete, secured a world indoor record in the 400m flat and won the world title in the 400m hurdles.
Maria Perez, who is a world champion in the 20km and 35km race walk, also managed to set a world record in the 35km race walk.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay rounds out the list of world record holders among the nominees.
She secured the world 10,000m championship and broke Kipyegon’s 5000m world record on her way to winning the event at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Additional nominees include Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican world 200m champion and double sprint Diamond League winner; Japan’s world and Diamond League javelin champion, Haruka Kitaguchi; Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the high jump title holder in Budapest and Eugene.
Also featured on the list are the world and Diamond League triple champion, Yulimar Rojas; Sha’Carri Richardson, the American who claimed the 100m title at the World Championships, and Bahama’s Winfred Yavi, the victor in the 3000m steeplechase in Budapest and Eugene.
