Five Americans are among the 20 total nominees for World Athletics Female and Male Athlete of the Year awards.
On the women’s side, shot putter Chase Jackson, sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and hurdler Masai Russell made the list.
Sprinter Kenny Bednarek and hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp made the men’s nominees.
World Athletics 2026 Female Athlete of the Year Nominees
- Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia, Marathon
- Chase Jackson, USA, Shot Put
- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, USA, Sprints
- Agnes Ngetich, Kenya, Distance Running
- Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic, 400m
- Maria Perez, Spain, Race Walk
- Camryn Rogers, Canada, Hammer Throw
- Masai Russell, USA, 100m Hurdles
- Audrey Werro, Switzerland, 800m
- Yan Ziyi, China, Javelin
World records were set in 2026 by Assefa (women’s only marathon), Ngetich (women’s only half marathon), Perez (inaugural half marathon race walk) and Russell (100m hurdles).
World Athletics 2026 Male Athlete of the Year Nominees
- Kenny Bednarek, USA, Sprints
- Kristjan Ceh, Slovenia, Discus
- Andy Diaz Hernandez, Italy, Triple Jump
- Alison dos Santos, Brazil, 400m Hurdles
- Mondo Duplantis, Sweden, Pole Vault
- Collen Kebinatshipi, Botswana, 400m
- Josh Kerr, Great Britain, 1500m/Mile
- Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Sri Lanka, Javelin
- Sabastian Sawe, Kenya, Marathon
- Ja’Kobe Tharp, USA, 110m Hurdles
World records were set in 2026 by dos Santos (400m hurdles), Duplantis (pole vault), Kerr (mile), Sawe (marathon) and Tharp (110m hurdles).
How does World Athletics Choose Athlete of the Year?
The athletes will be ranked first through 10th through a four-way vote that runs until Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
The vote is split 25% each from World Athletics fans voting by survey here, athletes, media members and World Athletics family including council and commission members, athlete representatives, local event organizing committee chairs, meet directors, member federation presidents, official partners and World Athletics staff.
Three women’s finalists and three men’s finalists will be announced Nov. 10-11. The winners will be announced Nov. 29 at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
The other awards are women’s and men’s Rising Stars, Coach of the Year, the President’s Award and Moment of the Year.
In 2025, the Athletes of the Year were American Sydney Levrone, who took 2026 off to have daughter Savannah, and Duplantis.
