World Athletics has announced its 20 nominees for the prestigious 2026 World Athlete of the Year awards, bringing some of the season’s most remarkable sporting achievements into the international spotlight. The shortlist features 10 women and 10 men representing different countries and disciplines, including sprinting, distance running, pole vault, hurdles, throwing events, and race walking. With the winners scheduled to be revealed at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 29, attention is turning toward the athletes whose performances have defined an exceptional year in track and field.
The announcement recognizes a season filled with record breaking performances, championship victories, and extraordinary displays of consistency. From marathon runners pushing the limits of human endurance to sprinters delivering remarkable times on the track, this year’s nominees represent the depth and international reach of modern athletics. For fans, the awards also provide an opportunity to reflect on performances that have inspired audiences across continents.
World Athletics Confirms 20 Athletes for the 2026 Awards
The official shortlist was announced on October 6, 2026, by World Athletics, the international governing body responsible for overseeing the sport. The selection includes 10 nominees for the women’s World Athlete of the Year award and another 10 for the men’s category.
The nominees were selected by an eight member panel of statisticians. Two representatives came from World Athletics, while the remaining six represented the organization’s continental area associations. Their selections considered performances throughout the 2026 season, including major international championships, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, Diamond League meetings, road races, and other significant competitions.
The awards will follow a revised format in 2026. Rather than maintaining separate overall event group awards for track, field, and out of stadium competitions, World Athletics will recognize one overall female athlete and one overall male athlete. Three finalists from each category will be announced before the ceremony.
Women’s World Athlete of the Year Nominees
The women’s shortlist brings together an impressive collection of athletes who have demonstrated excellence across several disciplines. Distance running, sprinting, throwing events, hurdles, and race walking are all represented, reflecting the variety of performances that have shaped the season.
1. Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia
Tigst Assefa earned recognition through another extraordinary marathon season. She won the Berlin Marathon in 2:11:04, producing the third fastest marathon performance in history. She also won the London Marathon in 2:15:41, establishing a women only world record. Her ability to maintain exceptional speed over the marathon distance makes her one of the strongest candidates on the shortlist.
2. Chase Jackson, United States
Shot put specialist Chase Jackson continued to establish herself among the world’s leading field athletes. She improved the North American record twice during the season, reaching 21.14 meters. She also won the world indoor title and regained the Diamond League trophy, demonstrating consistency at the highest level of competition.
3. Melissa Jefferson Wooden, United States
Melissa Jefferson Wooden delivered an outstanding sprinting season, winning the 100 meter and 200 meter double at the Ultimate Championship. She recorded a world leading 10.62 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.47 seconds in the 200 meters. Her 200 meter performance placed her third on the all time world list, making her one of the most impressive sprinters of 2026.
4. Agnes Ngetich, Kenya
Agnes Ngetich produced exceptional results in distance running. She won the world half marathon title in a women only world record of 1:05:15, finishing 50 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. She also claimed the world cross country title by 42 seconds. Her season included world leading performances in the 3000 meters and 10 kilometer road running, strengthening her position among the leading athletes in the category.
5. Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic
Marileidy Paulino continued her dominance in the 400 meters, winning the Ultimate Championship title and regaining the Diamond League crown. She recorded a world leading time of 48.48 seconds and remained unbeaten throughout the season. Her ability to run below 49 seconds in eight races demonstrated remarkable consistency in one of athletics’ most demanding sprint events.
6. María Pérez, Spain
Race walking specialist María Pérez added another important achievement to her international career by setting the inaugural world half marathon race walk record of 1:30:06. She also won the European title with a 58 second margin. Her performances demonstrated the importance of technical precision, endurance, and pacing in race walking.
7. Camryn Rogers, Canada
Hammer thrower Camryn Rogers improved her own North American record to 81.13 meters, strengthening her position as one of the world’s leading athletes in the event. She produced the five best performances of the season and retained her Commonwealth Games title. Her consistency and technical strength made her another notable addition to the women’s shortlist.
8. Masai Russell, United States
Masai Russell enjoyed a remarkable season in the 100 meter hurdles. She established a world record of 12.09 seconds and recorded nine of the 10 fastest performances of the year. She also won both the Ultimate Championship and Diamond League titles while completing an unbeaten season in the event.
9. Audrey Werro, Switzerland
Audrey Werro emerged as one of the leading middle distance runners of 2026. She won the Ultimate Championship, Diamond League, and European 800 meter titles. During the season, she broke the Diamond League record three times, eventually reaching a world leading 1:53.70. That performance placed her third on the all time world list.
10. Yan Ziyi, China
Young javelin thrower Yan Ziyi produced one of the season’s most impressive field performances. She opened her campaign with a throw of 71.74 meters, establishing an Asian record and world under 20 record. The performance placed her second on the all time world javelin list. She also won Diamond League and Asian Games titles.
Men’s World Athlete of the Year Nominees
The men’s shortlist features a similarly impressive group of competitors. Several nominees achieved world records, while others secured major championship victories and produced performances that placed them among the greatest athletes in their respective disciplines.
1. Kenneth Bednarek, United States
Kenneth Bednarek demonstrated his sprinting ability by winning both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Ultimate Championship. He recorded 9.85 seconds in the shorter event and achieved a personal best and world leading 19.52 seconds in the 200 meters. He also secured the Diamond League 200 meter title, further strengthening his nomination.
2. Kristjan Čeh, Slovenia
Discus thrower Kristjan Čeh maintained his position among the leading field athletes. He won the Diamond League title with a meeting record of 71.29 meters in Brussels and retained his European championship crown with a championship record of 72.51 meters. His achievements reflected both consistency and competitive strength.
3. Andy Díaz Hernández, Italy
Andy Díaz Hernández enjoyed an outstanding year in the triple jump, winning world indoor, Diamond League, and European titles. His 18.15 meter jump moved him to fourth on the all time world list. The achievement demonstrated his ability to compete successfully across major international championships and elite one day meetings.
4. Alison dos Santos, Brazil
Alison dos Santos produced one of the most significant performances in the 400 meter hurdles by establishing a world record of 45.80 seconds. He also won the Ultimate Championship in 45.98 seconds, the third fastest time in history. Remaining undefeated across 11 hurdles races, including the Diamond League Final, made his season particularly impressive.
5. Mondo Duplantis, Sweden
Pole vault superstar Mondo Duplantis continued his extraordinary career by improving his own world record to 6.31 meters. He also collected Ultimate Championship, world indoor, and European titles. His ability to repeatedly push the limits of the event has made him one of the most recognizable figures in international athletics.
6. Collen Kebinatshipi, Botswana
Collen Kebinatshipi delivered an exceptional 400 meter campaign. He won the Ultimate Championship in 43.39 seconds, placing fifth on the all time world list. He also secured the Diamond League title and improved the Diamond League record three times, eventually reaching 43.40 seconds. His six performances below 44 seconds represented a record for a single season.
7. Josh Kerr, Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Middle distance runner Josh Kerr produced a historic season by setting a world mile record of 3:42.66. His performance also included a world leading 1500 meter split of 3:27.62. He added the Ultimate Championship 1500 meter title, world indoor 3000 meter crown, and Commonwealth Games mile title to his achievements.
8. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Sri Lanka
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage brought international attention to Sri Lankan athletics through his impressive javelin performances. He won the Ultimate Championship, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games titles. His national record and world leading throw of 92.62 meters established him as one of the strongest competitors in the discipline. He also won 13 of his 14 competitions during the season.
9. Sabastian Sawe, Kenya
Sabastian Sawe delivered one of the most historic performances in distance running by winning the London Marathon in a world record time of 1:59:30. He became the first man to complete a marathon in less than two hours in a record eligible race. The achievement represented a major moment in athletics and placed his name among the most discussed athletes of the year.
10. Ja’Kobe Tharp, United States
Ja’Kobe Tharp established a world 110 meter hurdles record of 12.75 seconds at the NCAA Championships. He also won the Ultimate Championship and Diamond League titles. Breaking the 13 second barrier in six races demonstrated his consistency and exceptional speed, making him a major contender for the men’s award.
How the 2026 World Athlete of the Year Voting Works
World Athletics introduced a revised voting structure for the 2026 awards, giving four different groups equal influence over the final rankings. Each group contributes 25 percent of the overall result, creating a system that combines public participation with the perspectives of athletes, journalists, and athletics officials.
The four voting groups include:
- World Athletics fans: Supporters participate through an official online voting survey.
- International athletes: Athletes who competed at World Athletics Series events during 2026 contribute their votes.
- Accredited media: Journalists, broadcasters, commentators, and eligible content creators who covered World Athletics Series events participate.
- World Athletics Family: This group includes Council members, commission members, athlete representatives, event organizers, federation presidents, official partners, and World Athletics staff.
The fan voting period for the World Athlete of the Year rankings closed on October 17, 2026. Therefore, the announcement on October 30 should not be interpreted as the beginning of voting for these awards. The final rankings will reflect the combined contributions of all four voting groups.
The revised system is designed to recognize sporting excellence while allowing different parts of the athletics community to participate in the decision. Fans may not control the entire result, but their contribution represents an important part of the selection process.
When Will the Winners Be Announced?
The six finalists, including three women and three men, are scheduled to be announced on November 10 and November 11. These athletes will receive invitations to attend the World Athletics Awards ceremony in Monaco on November 29, 2026.
The winners will be revealed live during the ceremony. Other honors will also be presented, including the women’s and men’s Rising Star awards, Coach of the Year, and the President’s Award. The 2026 ceremony will also feature the new Moment of the Year award, recognizing a memorable athletics achievement selected through a separate fan participation process and an expert panel.
Fans can follow official announcements, athlete profiles, competition results, and award updates through the World Athletics official awards platform.
Why the 2026 Awards Matter for International Athletics
The World Athlete of the Year awards represent more than a celebration of individual victories. They provide an opportunity to recognize the dedication, discipline, and preparation required to compete at the highest level of international sport.
This year’s shortlist also highlights the global nature of athletics. Athletes from Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and the Caribbean have all made their mark through performances across different disciplines. Their achievements demonstrate that excellence in athletics is not limited to one country, training system, or sporting tradition.
The nominations also reflect how the sport continues to evolve. Record breaking performances in marathon running, pole vault, hurdles, sprinting, and field events show that athletes are continually testing the limits of physical performance. Meanwhile, the inclusion of emerging stars alongside established champions provides a glimpse into the future of international competition.
Monaco Ceremony Set to Bring the Season to a Memorable Close
With the 20 nominees confirmed and the fan voting period completed, the focus now shifts toward the announcement of the six finalists and the November ceremony in Monaco. Each shortlisted athlete has delivered achievements worthy of international recognition, making the final selection a difficult decision for the voting groups.
Whether it is Sabastian Sawe’s historic marathon performance, Mondo Duplantis continuing to rewrite pole vault records, Tigst Assefa’s exceptional marathon results, or Masai Russell’s outstanding hurdles season, the nominees have given athletics fans plenty of reasons to celebrate.
As the awards approach, the 2026 World Athlete of the Year race offers a fitting recognition of the athletes who have pushed their disciplines forward. The ceremony on November 29 will ultimately determine which two competitors stand above the rest, but the achievements represented on this shortlist have already secured their place among the defining sporting moments of the year.
