Monaco, Oct 18, 2016 – The International Association of Athletes Federation (IAAF) has nominated Jamaican 100 metres Gold Medalist, Usain Bolt and Ethiopian 10,000 metres gold medalist at the Rio Olympic Games 2016 for Athlete of the Year Award.
The award comes up on Friday, December 2, 2016. Ten athletes were nominated for the male category and another 10 nominated for the female category bringing the total number of nominees to 20.
The nominees for 2016 World Athlete of the Year are listed below. Those nominated in the male category are Usain Bolt (JAM), Thiago Braz da Silva (BRA), Ashton Eaton (USA), Mo Farah (GBR), Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), Conselsus Kipruto (KEN), Omar McLeod (JAM), David Rudisha (KEN), Christian Taylor (USA) and Wayde van Niekerk (RSA).
Those nominated for the women category are Almaz Ayana (ETH), Ruth Beitia (ESP), Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN), Kendra Harrison (USA), Caterine Ibarguen (COL), Ruth Jebet (BRN), Sandra Perkovic (CRO) , Caster Semenya (RSA), Elaine Thompson (JAM) and Anita Wlodarczyk (POL).
A three-way voting process will determine the finalists, the IAAF said in a statement adding that the IAAF Council and the IAAF Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the IAAF’s social media platforms.
“The IAAF Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result. Voting closes on 1 November. At the conclusion of the voting process, three men and three women finalists will be announced by the IAAF”, the athletes body said in a statement.
It added that the male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Awards Night.
