Andy Devaney
The race for Athlete of the Year is down to a dozen, as World Athletics today confirmed the 12 finalists ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Awards.
After weeks of global voting, the top two performers in each category — track, field, and out of stadium — have emerged from the first round, which drew input from the World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family, and thousands of fans on social media.
Now, the spotlight shifts to the final round of public voting between 4–9 November, where fans will have the final say on who takes home the men’s and women’s World Athlete of the Year titles.
Each of the twelve finalists has delivered a season worth remembering, from record-breaking performances on the track to breathtaking field dominance and marathon mastery. Their efforts have defined 2025’s athletics calendar — and made this year’s awards one of the most hotly contested in memory.
Fans can cast their votes directly through World Athletics’ official channels, ensuring the final winners truly reflect the sport’s global heartbeat.
The countdown begins — and by mid-November, the world will know who stood tallest among the world’s finest athletes.
Vote now via World Athletics’ official website and social platforms to decide the next Athlete of the Year.
| Category | Athlete | Nation | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s track athlete of the year Track | Femke Bol | 🇳🇱 NED | World 400m hurdles champion |
| Women’s track athlete of the year Track | Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone | 🇺🇸 USA | World 400m champion |
| Men’s track athlete of the year Track | Noah Lyles | 🇺🇸 USA | World 200m champion |
| Men’s track athlete of the year Track | Emmanuel Wanyonyi | 🇰🇪 KEN | World 800m champion |
| Women’s field athlete of the year Field | Tara Davis-Woodhall | 🇺🇸 USA | World long jump champion |
| Women’s field athlete of the year Field | Nicola Olyslagers | 🇦🇺 AUS | World high jump champion |
| Men’s field athlete of the year Field | Mondo Duplantis | 🇸🇪 SWE | World pole vault champion |
| Men’s field athlete of the year Field | Mattia Furlani | 🇮🇹 ITA | World long jump champion |
| Women’s out of stadium athlete of the year Out of stadium | Peres Jepchirchir | 🇰🇪 KEN | World marathon champion |
| Women’s out of stadium athlete of the year Out of stadium | Maria Perez | 🇪🇸 ESP | World 20km & 35km race walk champion |
| Men’s out of stadium athlete of the year Out of stadium | Sabastian Sawe | 🇰🇪 KEN | London Marathon and Berlin Marathon champion |
| Men’s out of stadium athlete of the year Out of stadium | Alphonce Simbu | 🇹🇿 TAN | World marathon champion |
