The top athletes for the 2021 season are Norway's Karsten Warholm and Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah. The prize for best male athlete could not escape Warholm, who won Gold at the Tokyo Olympics with the world record in the 400m hurdles (45.94s). Two Africans, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, were in the race for the title.
Among the women, Elaine Thompson-Herah had an exceptional season by winning three Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4X100m. The sprint queen also holds the second fastest time of all time in the 100m (10.78s). Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon was the continent’s only athlete standing for election.
Sudanese-American Athing Mu is the rising star of the year. Olympic champion in the 800m, the 19-year-old runner is undefeated over this distance this season. His compatriot Erriyon Knighton wins the award for boys. The 17-year-old athlete signed a new U20 world record in the 200m (19.84s) dethroning Usain Bolt.
