What is the World Athlete of the Year award?
World Athlete of the Year is the top honour of the World Athletics Awards, given since 1988 to the outstanding male and female athletes across track and field, road running and race walking. Around it sits a full set of category awards — men's and women's track athlete, field athlete and out-of-stadium athlete of the year, plus rising star, coach and world record awards.[1] [2]
How is the winner chosen?
World Athletics publishes a nominee list drawn from the season's championship results, records and Diamond League and Continental Tour form, then combines three votes: the World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family of member federations and officials, and a public vote. The winners are presented at the annual awards ceremony in Monaco.[1] [3]
Who won in 2025?
Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States were named World Athletes of the Year in Monaco on 30 November 2025. Duplantis also took men's field athlete of the year and McLaughlin-Levrone women's track athlete of the year; Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya) and Nicola Olyslagers (Australia) won the other track and field categories, with María Pérez (Spain) and Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) named out-of-stadium athletes of the year.[2] [4]
Why does it matter?
Because the awarding body governs the sport in 214 member federations, and the award names one man and one woman across every event in it — sprints, distance, jumps, throws, combined events, marathon and race walk alike. It is the federation's own annual verdict on a season, published with the nomination lists and the voting structure attached.[1] [2]
References
- World Athletics — Awards. Accessed August 2026.
- World Athletics — Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone named World Athletes of the Year. Accessed August 2026.
- World Athletics — World Athletes of the Year 1988–2025. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — 2025 World Athletics Awards. Accessed August 2026.