The winners of the 2025 World Athletics Awards have been announced gradually over the past few days. Unsurprisingly, pole vaulter Armand Duplantis (Sweden), who has improved his world record four times by 2025, was named male athlete of the year. The women's award went to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, world champion in the 400 meters in Tokyo with the second best time in history over the distance (47″78).
Sebastian Sawe (Kenya) and María Pérez (Spain) were named Athletes of the Year in the off-track events category. On the track, Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) were recognized, as were Mondo Duplantis and Nicola Olyslagers (Australia) in the jumping/throwing events. The top prospects are... Edmund Serem (Kenya), third in the 3.000m steeplechase at the World Championships at only 17 years old, and Zhang Jiale (China), bronze medalist in hammer throw.
Female World Athlete of the Year Winner 🏆
- World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) November 30, 2025
🇺🇸's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is your Female World Athlete of the Year 🤩#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/wXDhwE9d8C
China also received the Member Federation of the Year award.The country notably hosted the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing and World Athletics highlighted the national federation's progress in five key areas: institutional innovation, event improvement, youth development, gender equality and business collaboration. »
The President's Award was presented to Australian broadcaster and commentator Bruce McAvaney for outstanding services to athletics. The fair play award goes to Belgian Tim Van de Velde and the coaching award went to Irish coach Michael O'Connor. Finally, in the Woman of the Year category, Ruth Jepchumba Bundotich was recognized for her commitment to the growth of athletics in Kenya.
