Africa played its part well during the year 2023 with the coronation of Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, Kelvin Kiptum and Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa as Best athletes of the year. Falilatou Tchanile-Salifou (president of the Togolese athletics federation) was elected woman of the year. Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Giday (world vice-champion in the 10,000 m) won the International Fair Play Prize. Kenya’s Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi were named as rising stars in 2023.

Important decisions regarding World Athletics’ World Plan, working groups and competition rules were among those made at the 233rd World Athletics Council Meeting in Monaco on 7-8 December.

In his summary of the year, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the success of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 held in August; a first-rate event that left stakeholders and fans in no doubt that athletics is a sport that is punching its weight and on the move.

The African Athletics Development Center (AADC) in Dakar opened its doors to a class of 13 residents from 10 French-speaking countries.

The names of the five finalists for Men’s World Athlete of the Year honours have been confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2023 continues.

The names of the five finalists for Women’s World Athlete of the Year honours have been confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2023 continues.

Soufiane El Bakkali, Kelvin Kiptum (Men), Tigist Assefa, Faith Kipyegon, Gudaf Tsegay (Ladies) are the Africans in the race for the titles of world athletes of the 2023 season.

This week marks the opening of the voting process for the 2023 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2023. Soufiane El Bakkali, Kelvin Kiptum (Men), Tigist Assefa, Faith Kipyegon, Gudaf Tsegay (Ladies) are the Africans in the race for the titles.

11 nominees for Men’s World Athlete of the Year

Neeraj Chopra, IND, javelin

Ryan Crouser, USA, shot put

Mondo Duplantis, SWE, pole vault

Soufiane El Bakkali, MAR, 3000m steeplechase

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, NOR, 1500m/mile/5000m

Kelvin Kiptum, KEN, marathon

Pierce LePage, CAN, decathlon

Noah Lyles, USA, 100m/200m

Alvaro Martin, ESP, race walk

Miltiadis Tentoglou, long jump

Karsten Warholm, NOR, 400m hurdles/400m

11 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year

Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon

Femke Bol, NED, 400m/400m hurdles

Shericka Jackson, JAM, 100m/200m

Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m

Haruka Kitaguchi, JPN, javelin

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR, high jump

Maria Perez, ESP, race walk

Gudaf Tsegay, ETH, 5000m/10,000m

Sha’Carri Richardson, 100m/200m

Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump

Winfed Yavi, BRN, 3000m steeplechase

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Saturday 28 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics on 13-14 November.

The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on 11 December.

Further information about the World Athletics Awards 2023 will be announced in the coming weeks.

The first inspection mission of the Confederation of African Athletics, led by Aziz Daouda, technical director of the CAA, is staying in Cameroon. On October 6, the mission began inspecting the Japoma stadium in Douala. They will also inspect the Olembe stadium in Yaoundé, before deciding between the two stadiums, the one which will host for the 2nd time in Cameroon, the African Athletics Championship in 2024 just before the Olympic Games (OG).

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, clocking a tremendous 2:00:35* to take 34 seconds off the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday (8).