World Athletics names 20 nominees for its 2026 Athlete of the Year awards

World Athletics announced 20 nominees for its 2026 World Athlete of the Year award on Tuesday, ahead of the World Athletics Awards in Monaco. An eight member panel of statisticians drew up the list, 10 men and 10 women, spanning track, field and the roads.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe is on the men's list after becoming the first man to run a record eligible marathon under two hours, in 1:59:30. He is joined by pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, Britain's 1500m runner Josh Kerr, Botswana's 400m world champion Collen Kebinatshipi and sprinter Kenneth Bednarek of the United States, among others.

The women's nominees include Ethiopian marathoner Tigst Assefa, Kenyan 10km world record holder Agnes Ngetich, Dominican quarter miler Marileidy Paulino and Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who broke her national 800m record three times this season. American sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and shot putter Chase Jackson also made the cut.

A four way public vote now runs through Saturday, October 17, with fans, athletes, media and the World Athletics Family each holding a quarter of the final say. Six finalists, three per category, will be revealed on November 10 and 11, and the winners will be named live at the Monaco ceremony on November 29.

World Athletics is also introducing a new Moment of the Year prize this cycle, alongside the existing Rising Star, Coach of the Year and President's Award categories.

Our take: a 20 name longlist with this much range, sprinters next to a sub two hour marathoner, says more about how deep the sport is right now than any single result could.

Sources: World Athletics.