The exercise has become a ritual. Like every year at this time of year, the International Federation of Athletics (World Athletics) unveils the nominees for its annual trophies in the style of a soap opera. It began with the list of candidates for the title of Female World Athlete for 2023. There are 11 names, selected by an international panel of athletics experts: Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia – marathon), Femke Bol (Netherlands – 400m/400m hurdles), Shericka Jackson (Jamaica – 100m/200m), Faith Kipyegon (Kenya – 1,500m/5,000m), Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan – javelin), Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine – high jump), Maria Perez (Spain – walk), Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia – 5,000 m/10,000 m), Sha’Carri Richardson (United States – 100 m/200 m), Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela – triple jump), Winfed Yavi (Bahrain – 3,000 m steeplechase). The winner will be announced on social networks on 11 December, at the end of a three-stage voting process. The World Athletics Council will vote online, its votes counting for half of the final tally. The athletics family (officials, coaches, journalists, etc.) will also vote online, accounting for a quarter of the score. Finally, fans will be able to make their choice via World Athletics’ social media channels. Their votes will count for the final quarter of the final score. At the end of this process, five female and five male finalists will be announced by World Athletics on 13 and 14 November.
