Kenya's golden trio of Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi earn prestigious World Athletics Award nominations following their record-breaking performances at the 2025 World Championships, where African athletes showcased unprecedented dominance across multiple disciplines.
Africa has taken center stage in global track and field excellence as Kenyan stars Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi earned nominations for the 2025 World Athletics Track Athlete of the Year awards.
Their recognition caps a historic year for African athletics, marked by Kenya’s seven gold medals and second-place finish behind the United States at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Kenyan Trio Leads Global Contenders
Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon are vying for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year title against American sprinters Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Dutch hurdler Femke Bol.
In the men’s field, Emmanuel Wanyonyi faces tough competition from U.S. champions Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, and Cordell Tinch, along with France’s Jimmy Gressier.
Record-Breaking African Performances
Chebet’s nomination crowns a season of domination. The 25-year-old clinched a historic double in Tokyo, capturing gold medals in both the 5000m and 10,000m—becoming only the third woman ever to achieve that feat at a global championship.
Earlier this year, she broke the 5000m world record with a time of 13:58.06, the first sub-14-minute performance in history. Chebet remains undefeated in distance events for the second consecutive season.
Faith Kipyegon, 31, continued her reign with a record-equaling fourth consecutive 1500m world title, matching Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj.
She also broke her own world record at the Eugene Diamond League, clocking 3:48.68, before claiming silver in the 5000m behind Chebet.
At only 21, Emmanuel Wanyonyi stormed to the men’s 800m title in Tokyo with a championship record of 1:41.86—one of the fastest runs in history.
A former cattle herder, Wanyonyi is now the second-fastest 800m runner ever, trailing only compatriot David Rudisha. His front-running tactics pushed all eight finalists to finish under 1:43, a first in championship history.
A Continental Gold Rush
Kenya’s dominance in Tokyo marks a golden chapter for African athletics, driven by the remarkable resurgence of women athletes.
Six of Kenya’s seven gold medals were won by women—a reflection of shifting social attitudes. Motherhood no longer ends athletic careers, as shown by champions like Kipyegon, marathoner Peres Jepchirchir, and 800m winner Lilian Odira, each of whom returned to competition after childbirth.
Beyond Kenya, other African nations celebrated milestone victories. Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi captured the 400m crown and anchored the 4x400m relay team to gold.
Tanzania won its first-ever World Championship title through Alphonce Felix Simbu in the men’s marathon, while Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati took silver behind Wanyonyi in the 800m.
Global Recognition and Voting
The World Athletics Awards honor performances from the Tokyo Championships held September 13–21, 2025. Public voting—open on Facebook, Instagram, and X—closes October 19 to determine the finalists.
Field Athlete of the Year nominees will follow on October 20, with Out-of-Stadium contenders announced on October 27. The overall World Athletes of the Year will be selected from among the three category winners.
Africa’s Expanding Legacy
These nominations cement Africa’s rise from a continent synonymous with distance running to a powerhouse across sprints, hurdles, and field events.
The achievements of Kipyegon, Chebet, and Wanyonyi signify not just individual triumphs but Africa’s growing influence in shaping global athletics.
Their excellence continues to redefine the sport’s competitive standards and inspire the next generation across the continent.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
