Finalists announced for 2025 Athlete of the Year awards

November 22, 2025

Tokyo

 

The 12 Athlete of the Year finalists have been confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2025 continues.

The top two athletes in each category – track, field and out of stadium – have been chosen from the first round of voting, which comprised votes from the World Athletics Council, World Athletics Family and a public vote on social media. One of the two athletes will take the crown in their category.

A final round of voting – cast by fans of the sport – will now take place between 4-9 November to help select the overall women’s and men’s World Athlete of the Year.

Vote now

Finalists

Women’s track athlete of the year
Femke Bol (NED) – world 400m hurdles champion
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – world 400m champion

Men’s track athlete of the year
Noah Lyles (USA) – world 200m champion
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) – world 800m champion

Women’s field athlete of the year
Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) – world long jump champion
Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) – world high jump champion

Men’s field athlete of the year
Mondo Duplantis (SWE) – world pole vault champion
Mattia Furlani (ITA) – world long jump champion

Women’s out of stadium athlete of the year
Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) – world marathon champion
Maria Perez (ESP) – world 20km and 35km race walk champion

Men’s out of stadium athlete of the year
Sabastian Sawe (KEN) – London Marathon and Berlin Marathon champion
Alphonce Simbu (TAN) – world marathon champion

The Athletes of the Year in each category, as well as the overall winners, will be revealed at a ceremony in Monaco on Sunday 30 November as part of the World Athletics Awards 2025.

World Athletics

SOMA ZAIDI

🏆 Vote for the Finish That Made History! Alphonce Simbu: World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year

November 09, 2025

Tokyo

 

In a moment so dramatic it redefined endurance running, Alphonce Simbu delivered a finish for the ages at the Tokyo World Championships.

After 42.195 grueling kilometers, the men's marathon came down to a breathtaking sprint inside the National Stadium.

• The Race: A tactical masterclass through the streets of Tokyo.

• The Moment: A stunning, last-second surge and a full-body lunge across the line.

• The Verdict: A photo finish confirmed it—Alphonce Simbu won Tanzania's first-ever World Championship gold medal by the closest margin in history: a mere 0.03 seconds!

This was the ultimate test of heart, kick, and grit, crowning Simbu the undisputed World Marathon Champion.

Now, he's a nominee for the prestigious World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award.

A marathon decided like a 100m sprint! His historic victory against German Amanal Petros is a testament to unwavering determination that deserves the world's highest honor.

Your Vote Counts! Help celebrate this incredible, history-making moment! Cast your vote for the man who proved that in the marathon, the last three hundredths of a second are all that matters.

#VoteSimbu #WorldChampion #OutOfStadiumAOY #AthleticsAwards

SOMA ZAIDI

Simbu Ateka Mitaa ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam

September 24, 2025

Tokyo

Na Tullo Chambo, Riadha Tanzania.

MWANARIADHA wa Kimataifa wa Tanzania, Bingwa wa Dunia Marathon,   Sajenti Alphonce Simbu, amekuwa kivutio kikubwa kwa wananchi mbalimbali wa Jiji la Dar es Salaam, mara aliporejea nchini akitokea Tokyo Japan.

Simbu, Septemba 16 mwaka huu, aliandika historia baada ya kuibuka Bingwa wa Dunia Marathon akitumia saa 2:09:48.03 katika Mashindano ya Dunia 'World Athletics Championship 2025 Tokyo Japan na kuwa Mtanzania wa kwanza kutwaa medali ya dhahabu katika mashindano hayo makubwa kabisa duniani.

Simbu akiambatana na Rais wa Shirikisho la Riadha Tanzania (RT), Mrakibu Msaidizi wa Polisi (ASP), Rogath John na Kocha Denis Malle,  alirejea nchini alfajiri ya Septemba 23  na kupata mapokezi makubwa yaliyoongozwa na Katibu Mtendaji wa Baraza la Michezo la Taifa (BMT), Neema Msitha sambamba na Naibu Mkurugenzi wa Michezo Jeshi la Wananchi Tanzania (JWTZ), Luteni Kanali Penina Igwe.

Mara baada kuwasili, Simbu alipata mapumziko katika hoteli ya Blue Saphire Vingunguti na majira ya saa 4 asubuhi akiwa katika gari maalumu na msafara wa magari kadhaa ukiongozwa na Polisi wa Jeshi (MP), ulizunguka katika mitaa mbalimbali ya Dar es Salaam na kupita maeneo ya Karume, Kariakoo (Mzunguko wa Msimbazi), Mnazi Mmoja, Posta Mpya, Bandarini hadi hoteli ya Tiffany Diamond.

Simbu akiwa na medali yake ya dhahabu, akiwa juu ya gari akiwapungia wananchi waliokuwa pembezoni mwa barabara ambao walikuwa wamejaa shangwehuku wengine wakipigana vikumbo kumshika mkono na wengine kupiga naye picha huku wakimpongeza.

Kufika barabara ya Morogoro  msafara wa Simbu ulipita mbele ya Shule ya Msingi Mtendeni ambapo wanafunzi walishindwa kujizuia na kupanda ukuta ili kumshuhudia.

Kivutio kingine alikuwa mwananchi mmoja mlemavu wa miguu, ambaye alikuwa amepandwa na hisia kali akitamani naye kumshika mkono Simbu, lakini akawa anashindwa kumfikia juu ya gari, kabla msamaria mmoja kumnyanyua na hatimaye kufanikisha azma yake ya kusalimiana na Bingwa huyo wa Dunia kwa staili ya kugonga naye 'tano'.

Msafara huo wa Simbu, pia ulipambwa na burudani ya matarumbeta kutoka kikundi cha Jeshi, ambacho kilikuwa burudani ya aina yake.

Hafla maalumu ya Simbu, inatarajiwa kufanyika Septemba 27 mwaka huu.

SOMA ZAIDI