Olympic champions Sifan Hassan, Letsile Tebogo named Athletes of the Year
Al Jazeera
Dutch runner is rewarded for her three Olympic medals in the space of a week at the 2024 Games in Paris, where Tebogo won the men’s 200m gold.
Dutch marathoner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, both of whom took gold at the Paris Olympics, have been named Athletes of the Year by World Athletics.
Hassan, who also won the out-of-stadium award, was rewarded for her incredible performance in the French capital which stretched beyond the marathon and to the track.
In the space of seven days, she won two bronze medals in the 5,000 metres, having also run a heat and the 10,000-metre, and a spectacular gold in the marathon when she outsprinted Ethiopia’s then world record holder Tigist Assefa to win by just three seconds.
“I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan after receiving her award in Monaco on Sunday. “This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing.”
Tebogo received his award after becoming the first African Olympic champion in the 200m, crossing the line at the Stade de France in 19.46 seconds, edging out favourite American athletes Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles.
