Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Masai Russell and Audrey Werro have been confirmed as the three finalists for the 2026 Women&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year honour ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco.
Following a four-way vote by fans, athletes, members of the media and the World Athletics Family, the three finalists topped the list of 10 nominees that had been selected by an international panel of athletics experts.
The finalists will now be invited to Monaco for the World Athletics Awards on 29 November, when the winner will be announced live on stage. 
<h3>Finalists (in alphabetical order):</h3>
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/melissa-jefferson-wooden-14756997" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, USA</a> &bull; Won a sprint double at the Ultimate Championship &bull; Set world leads of 10.62 in the 100m and 21.47 in the 200m, the latter putting her third on the world all-time list
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/masai-russell-14659011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Masai Russell, USA</a> &bull; Set a world 100m hurdles record of 12.09 and achieved nine of the 10 fastest times of the season &bull; Won Ultimate and Diamond League titles as part of an unbeaten season in the 100m hurdles
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/switzerland/audrey-werro-14856078" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Audrey Werro, Switzerland</a> &bull; Won Ultimate, Diamond League and European 800m titles &bull; Broke the Diamond League record three times, improving to a world lead of 1:53.70 &ndash; putting her third on the world all-time list 
The remaining nominees finished in the following order:
4 Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia 5 Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic 6 Agnes Ngetich, Kenya 7 Chase Jackson, USA 8 Yan Ziyi, China 9 Mar&iacute;a P&eacute;rez, Spain 10 Camryn Rogers, Canada 
As well as the awarding of the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year honours, other awards to be presented on stage in Monaco include the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s Rising Star honours, Coach of the Year, the President&rsquo;s Award and, for the first time, the Moment of the Year award.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/mens-world-athlete-of-the-year-2026-finalists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finalists for Men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year</a> were announced on Tuesday (10).
World Athletics

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Masai Russell and Audrey Werro have been confirmed as the three finalists for the 2026 Women’s World Athlete of the Year honour ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco.

Finalists announced for Women's World Athlete of the Year 2026

Golden performances by Yomif Abebe and Elsabet Amare helped Ethiopia to top of the medal table as athletics competition at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar concluded on Tuesday (10).
More Youth Olympic Games records fell on the third and final day of athletics action and Abebe was among the record-breakers as the 16-year-old finished fast to overpower Eritrea's Ghebreab Mantay in the closing stages of the 800m &ndash; 1:48.99 to 1:49.31. Uganda&rsquo;s Timothy Cheptoek was third in 1:51.59 as the medallists all set PBs.
Amare, who set a world U18 mile best of 4:23.78 in June and finished fourth at the World U20 Championships in Oregon in August, clocked 4:28.02 for a clear 1500m win ahead of Kenya&rsquo;s Abigael Chepkirui (4:29.86) and Eritrea&rsquo;s Kanari Estifanos (4:31.10).
Ethiopia ended the three days of athletics competition at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop with five gold and three silver medals to top the table ahead of China with three gold, four silver and two bronze, and Kenya and Nigeria, each with three golds.
History was made in the men&rsquo;s 200m as Ropafadzo Mzondo was roared to victory, winning a first ever Youth Olympic Games gold for Zimbabwe in 21.04. Deuquan' Farrell secured silver in a photo finish, gaining Guyana a first Youth Olympic Games medal in 21.36 &ndash; the same time run by Philippines&rsquo; bronze medallist Pi Durden Forward Wangkay.
Dominican Republic&rsquo;s Patricia Sine held off the fast-finishing Tyra Fenton of Antigua &amp; Barbuda to win the women&rsquo;s 200m by 0.01 in a Youth Olympic Games record and national U18 record of 23.35, Fenton claiming a first medal in any Olympic competition for her nation.
South Africa&rsquo;s Megan Nieman and Jamaica&rsquo;s Jaeden Campbell also set Youth Olympic Games records, winning the 400m hurdles in 57.75 and 50.60, respectively.
Another first was achieved in the men&rsquo;s javelin, Marko Kaethler throwing a PB of 73.49m to win Paraguay's first ever Olympic gold.&nbsp;
Ukraine&rsquo;s Milaniia Kokhan dominated the hammer, throwing a PB of 71.27m to win ahead of China&rsquo;s Yang Xingyue (65.96m). Kokhan surpassed 70 metres with three of her throws, her best coming in the fifth round as she followed in the footsteps of her brother Mykhaylo Kokhan, the now Olympic bronze medallist who won the Youth Olympic Games title in Buenos Aires in 2018.
China&rsquo;s Sheng Xuefeng jumped a world U18 lead and PB of 16.18m to win the triple jump, while Kuwait&rsquo;s Yasmeen Roy won the high jump with a PB clearance of 1.80m. Zs&oacute;fi Marton of Hungary won the shot put (16.47m) and France&rsquo;s Axel Faye the pole vault (4.95m).
China&rsquo;s Wang Yaru (22:58.33 PB) and Spain&rsquo;s Gabriel Gonzalez (20:41.36) won the 5000m race walk titles.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/youth-olympic-games/youth-olympic-games-7147638/timetable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>

Youth Olympic Games

More Youth Olympic Games records fell on the third and final day of athletics action in Dakar 

Abebe and Amare help Ethiopia to top of Youth Olympics medal table

Alison dos Santos, Mondo Duplantis and Sabastian Sawe have been confirmed as the three finalists for the 2026 Men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year honour ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco.
Following a four-way vote by fans, athletes, members of the media and the World Athletics Family, the three finalists topped the list of 10 nominees that had been selected by an international panel of athletics experts.
The finalists will now be invited to Monaco for the World Athletics Awards on 29 November, when the winner will be announced live on stage. 
<h3>Finalists (in alphabetical order):</h3>
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/brazil/alison-dos-santos-14755064" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alison dos Santos, Brazil</a> &bull; Set a world 400m hurdles record of 45.80 and won the Ultimate title in 45.98, the third-fastest time in history &bull; Went undefeated in 11 hurdles races, including the Diamond League Final
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/sweden/armand-duplantis-14679502" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mondo Duplantis, Sweden</a> &bull; Improved his world pole vault record to 6.31m &bull; Won Ultimate, world indoor and European titles
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/sabastian-kimaru-sawe-14833335" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sabastian Sawe, Kenya</a> &bull; Won the London Marathon in a world record of 1:59:30 &bull; Became the first man to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon 
The remaining nominees finished in the following order:
4 Josh Kerr, Great Britain &amp; NI 5 Ja&rsquo;Kobe Tharp, USA 6 Kenneth Bednarek, USA 7 Collen Kebinatshipi, Botswana 8 Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Sri Lanka 9 Andy D&iacute;az Hern&aacute;ndez, Italy 10 Kristjan Čeh, Slovenia 
As well as the awarding of the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year honours, other awards to be presented on stage in Monaco include the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s Rising Star honours, Coach of the Year, the President&rsquo;s Award and, for the first time, the Moment of the Year award.
The finalists for Women&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year will be announced on Wednesday (11).
World Athletics

Alison dos Santos, Mondo Duplantis and Sabastian Sawe have been confirmed as the three finalists for the 2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year honour ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco.

Finalists announced for Men's World Athlete of the Year 2026

The qualification system for athletics competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, to be held between 15-30 July 2028, has been published and is available for download from the&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/member-federation-resource-centre#collapsela28-qualification-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Library</a>.
The qualification system approved by the World Athletics Council includes details of the qualification windows, total quota places per discipline and entry standards.
The programme will include 23 women&rsquo;s events and 23 men&rsquo;s events as well as two mixed events &ndash; the 4x100m mixed relay, making its Olympic Games debut, and the 4x400m mixed relay.
As has been the case for recent outdoor global championships, the qualification system is based on a dual pathway. Rather than the previous 50/50 model, 40% of athletes are expected to qualify through entry standards and the remaining 60% are expected to qualify through world rankings.
Should more athletes than the quota by event achieve the entry standard, qualification will be limited to those with the best performance in the qualification period, and within the quota number, thus achieving the entry standard does not automatically guarantee a quota place. In this case no athletes will be qualified by world rankings.
For the marathon, the qualification and ranking period runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2028. For the 10,000m, combined events, race walks and relays, the window is from 19 December 2026 to 18 June 2028. For all other events, the period runs from 19 June 2027 to 18 June 2028.
Results from competitions for which the last day falls within the applicable qualification and ranking periods will count entirely towards the qualification. Results from national senior outdoor championships that start within the applicable qualification and ranking periods will count towards the qualification if achieved no later than Thursday 22 June. 
<table style="border: solid 1px silver; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; background-color: #bd94ff;">Men</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; background-color: #bd94ff;">Event</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center; background-color: #bd94ff;">Women</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">9.93</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">100m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">10.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">19.95</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">200m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">22.25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">44.40</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">400m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">49.90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">1:43.00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">800m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">1:57.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">3:30.00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">1500m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">3:57.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">12:50.00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">5000m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">14:34.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">26:48.00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">10,000m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">30:30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">13.18</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">110m hurdles / 100m hurdles</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">12.58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">48.00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">400m hurdles</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">8:07.50</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">3000m steeplechase</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">9:06.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">2.32m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">High jump</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">1.97m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">5.90m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Pole vault</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">4.80m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">8.30m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Long jump</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">6.90m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">17.35m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Triple jump</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">14.50m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">21.50m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Shot put</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">19.30m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">67.20m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Discus throw</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">65.00m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">78.50m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Hammer throw</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">74.00m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">85.50m</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Javelin throw</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">63.80m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">8650</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Decathlon / Heptathlon</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">6550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">WRWTC</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Half marathon race walk</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">WRWTC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">2:05:00</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">Marathon</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%; text-align: center;">2:22:20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
 The methodology for determining the entry standards used the qualification periods of the past four global championships &ndash; the World Athletics Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and the Olympic Games in 2024 &ndash; as references. Top lists using the start and end dates of those four qualification periods were calculated with three athletes per country. Based on the trends, performance levels and expected improvements were all factored in to determine the entry standards, which also take into account the events where trends clearly require higher entry standards for the future than those used for past championships. This includes the marathon, where trends show that in an Olympic year, times are between 30 to 60 seconds faster than the trends would forecast.
For the marathon, any athlete ranked higher than the 56th athlete on the filtered Quota Place &lsquo;Road to LA&rsquo; list (three per national Olympic committee) on 19 March 2028 will be considered qualified. After 19 March 2028, the remaining 15 athletes will be determined by the same dual pathway qualification criteria outlined above, without displacing the athletes qualified by 19 March 2028. The first five finishers at the Platinum Label marathons held during the whole qualification period will also be considered as having achieved the entry standard and will be listed first on the &lsquo;Road to LA&rsquo;, World Athletics&rsquo; official qualification monitoring tool. Any national Olympic committee may choose to reallocate, at the time of the final entries, a quota place to an unqualified athlete provided the athlete in the whole qualification window has achieved at least a 2:11:00 (men) or 2:29:00 (women) performance.
For race walks, the first 12 placed athletes at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Hefei, China, on 9 April 2028 shall automatically qualify for the half marathon race walk events at LA28. If a quota place is declined, it shall be allocated via the world rankings. The remaining 36 places will be allocated via the world rankings.
For the relays, the first 14 placed national Olympic committees at the World Athletics Relays held in The Bahamas on 22-23 April 2028 shall automatically qualify for LA28. Teams will have two opportunities to qualify at the World Relays &ndash; if unsuccessful on day one, another chance will be provided on day two of the competition. The remaining teams will be selected according to the World Athletics performance list for relays during the qualification period.
World Athletics will publish the Road to LA on the World Athletics website in the latter part of 2027.
The current sport-by-sport schedule for the LA28 Olympic Games, which outlines the start and finish times of each session, can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://la28.org/en/games-plan/olympics.html#olympic-competition-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LA28 website</a>. The next opportunity for fans to buy LA28 Olympics tickets will be in 2027 with the launch of first-come, first-served purchasing.
World Athletics

The XXXIV Olympic Games

The qualification system for athletics competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, to be held between 15-30 July 2028, has been published.

Qualification system published for LA28 Olympic Games

Four Games records fell on the second day of athletics at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Monday (9), with Egypt's Yahya Sawaby and Jamaica's Marquies Page producing two of the standout performances.
Sawaby claimed the men's discus title with an African U18 record of 68.23m, moving to seventh on the world U18 all-time list and setting a world U18 lead with the 1.5kg implement.
The 17-year-old opened with 67.10m before improving to his winning mark in the third round. Jamaica's Kamari Kennedy produced a PB of 66.31m in the final round to secure silver, while Chile's Vittorio Gorziglia took bronze with 56.00m.
Page was similarly impressive in the men's 110m hurdles, clocking 12.95 (-0.4m/s) to take 0.01 off the Games record set by fellow Jamaican Jaheel Hyde at the 2014 edition in Nanjing.
The performance was also a Jamaican U18 best and moved Page to fifth on the world U18 all-time list. He finished comfortably clear of China's Shijie Chen (13.40), with South Africa's Enrique Bosch third in 13.45.
Ethiopia accounted for two of the day's other Games records, both in the distance events.
Junedin Abdo dominated the men's 2000m steeplechase, winning in 5:29.30 to finish almost seven seconds ahead of Kenya's Wesley Kiplagat Kipkech, who clocked a PB of 5:36.28. Uganda's Michael Kibet completed the podium in 5:39.50.
Abdo's performance was also a world U18 best for the event contested with 84cm barriers. His compatriot Meresa Kahsay holds the overall world U18 best of 5:19.99, achieved over the higher, standard barriers in 2013.
Ethiopia's Netsanet Selemon added another Games record in the women's 800m, winning in 2:04.43. Having clocked 2:08.28 to win her semifinal the previous day, Selemon improved on her previous lifetime best of 2:04.72 to claim the Youth Olympic title.
Nigeria's sprint success continued as Praise Ugoh added the women's 400m title to the country's two 100m gold medals from the opening day.
In one of the closest finals of the day, Ugoh clocked 52.76 to hold off Venezuela's Osmary Pacheco, who finished just 0.09 behind in 52.85. UAE's Aisha Muhammed was also in contention, taking bronze in 53.06.
Ugoh's victory was particularly impressive given that Pacheco had beaten her in their semifinal the previous day, clocking 53.01 to Ugoh's 54.38.
Kenya's Faith Rono prevailed in another close contest in the women's 3000m, winning in 9:15.47 to edge Ethiopia's Yordanos Tsigab by just 0.24. Uganda's Keren Chelimo took bronze in 9:32.41.
Elsewhere in the field events, Brazil's Pyetro Henrico Souza won the men's shot put with 19.79m, while Colombia's Ilsa Mayerlin Cordoba won the women's javelin with a PB of 57.62m.

Four Games records fell on the second day of athletics at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Monday

Sawaby and Page break Youth Olympic Games records in Dakar

Men&rsquo;s mile 3:42.66 Josh Kerr (GBR) London, 18 July 2026
Men&rsquo;s half marathon 56:51 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) Buenos Aires, 23 August 2026
Men&rsquo;s 400m hurdles 45.80 Alison dos Santos (BRA) Zurich, 27 August 2026
Women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles 12.09 Masai Russell (USA) Zurich, 27 August 2026
 World records set by Alison dos Santos, Yomif Kejelcha, Josh Kerr and Masai Russell have been ratified by World Athletics.
Kerr&rsquo;s was the first of those records to be set as he ran 3:42.66 to improve the long-standing world mile record at the Novuna London Athletics Meet, a Wanda Diamond League meeting, on 18 July.
Great Britain&rsquo;s Kerr was paced through the 400m mark on world record tempo in 55.3. He then reached 800m in 1:51.1 and 1200m in 2:46.39, roared on by the 60,000-strong crowd. The 2023 world 1500m champion then hit 1500m in 3:27.62 &ndash; faster than his own British record for the distance &ndash; before crossing the finish line in 3:42.66 to beat the world record of 3:43.13 set by Hicham El Guerrouj in Rome on 7 July 1999.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Kejelcha set his world record at the Media Marat&oacute;n Ciudad de Buenos Aires, a World Athletics Label road race, on 23 August.
Clocking 56:51, he took 29 seconds off the world record of 57:20 set by Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon on 8 March to regain a world record he previously set in Valencia in October 2024 with 57:30.
On his way, Kejelcha reached the 10km mark in 27:19 before a 13:22 split for the next 5km took him to 15km in 40:41. He then hit the 20km marker in 54:04, running a 26:45 split between 10km and 20km.
Two more world records fell just four days later as Dos Santos and Russell both made hurdles history at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Zurich on 27 August.
Dos Santos opened the record-breaking sequence with a stunning 45.80 in the men&rsquo;s 400m hurdles, and less than 40 minutes later Russell followed with 12.09 in the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles.
Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, made up the stagger on multiple global champion Karsten Warholm by halfway, then continued to forge ahead. The Brazilian charged through the line, taking 0.14 off the world record set by Warholm at the Tokyo Olympic Games on 3 August 2021. Warholm finished a distant second in 46.69.
USA&rsquo;s Olympic champion Russell had already gone close to the world 100m hurdles record twice during the season and in Zurich she finally took it down. Producing a flawless run over the barriers, she stopped the clock at 12.09 to take 0.03 off the previous world record of 12.12 set by Tobi Amusan in Oregon on 24 July 2022. Amusan was second in Zurich in 12.23.

World Athletics

World records set by Alison dos Santos, Yomif Kejelcha, Josh Kerr and Masai Russell have been ratified by World Athletics.

Ratified: world records for Dos Santos, Kejelcha, Kerr and Russell

Three finalists for the Photograph of the Year award have been selected ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2026.&nbsp;
From the 146 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising sprint superstar Usain Bolt, multiple global medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson, photographer and Paris 2024 photo chief Pascal Rondeau, athletics photographer and filmmaker Dan Vernon, and World Athletics digital creative manager Christel El Saneh &ndash; narrowed the entries to 10 shortlisted images before deciding on the three finalists.&nbsp;
A fan vote will be held on World Athletics&rsquo; social media channels from 9-15 November to help determine the winner.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Photographers from 64 countries across all six continental areas submitted entries.&nbsp;
The shortlisted images will form part of a digital exhibition on the World Athletics website that will go live later this month.&nbsp;
The winning photograph will be announced on World Athletics&rsquo; platforms as part of the World Athletics Awards 2026.&nbsp;
<h2>The finalists</h2>
<h3>Tom Jenkins&nbsp;</h3>
&lsquo;Men's 4x100m finish silhouette&rsquo;&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6af1b5165c72a8adc7b36e5e.jpg" alt="Men's 4x100m finish silhouette" />
<div>
The finish of the men&rsquo;s 4x100m relay final during the athletics competition at the Scotstoun Stadium on day nine of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
</div>
</div>
<h3>Ga&euml;lle Mobuchon&nbsp;</h3>
&lsquo;Chasing light&rsquo;&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6af1b4e05c72a8adc7b36e5b.jpg" alt="Chasing Light" />
<div>
Rai Benjamin of USA competes in the men's 400m final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
</div>
</div>
<h3>Victor Seco Mu&ntilde;oz&nbsp;</h3>
&lsquo;Your medal amidst water droplets&rsquo;&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6af1b5355c72a8adc7b36e61.jpg" alt="Your medal amidst water droplets" />
<div>
The 3000m steeplechase final at the European Championships in Birmingham. The German athlete dominated the entire race but had the misfortune of stumbling at the final water jump. You can see her sense of helplessness as the victory &ndash; or a medal &ndash; slips away. It is a magical moment captured in the photograph, yet a truly difficult one for the athlete.
</div>
</div>
<h2>About the photographers&nbsp;</h2>
Tom Jenkins (GBR) Tom Jenkins has been a professional sports photographer in the UK since 1989. He has worked for the Guardian since 1990, covering sport both nationally and internationally.&nbsp;
Ga&euml;lle Mobuchon (FRA) Ga&euml;lle Mobuchon has been a freelance photographer since 2022, specialising in sports photography, particularly athletics. Beyond movement and performance, her aim is to tell a story through photography, capturing the person behind the athlete, their emotions and the moments that make sport so special. She strives to bring creativity and a personal perspective to every image.&nbsp;
Victor Seco Mu&ntilde;oz (ESP) Victor Seco Mu&ntilde;oz is a photographer specialising in sports, primarily athletics. His professional career began in 2019 and he currently works with major championships, magazines, sports brands and individual athletes. A former 1500m runner, now he strives to capture the perfect moment to be remembered.&nbsp;

Three finalists have been selected for the Photograph of the Year award

Finalists announced for 2026 World Athletics Photograph of the Year 

Nigeria's Gift Bright and Rosemary Nwankwo claimed the men's and women's 100m titles as athletics got under way at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Sunday (8).
Just 15 years old, Bright produced a Games record of 10.28 (1.7m/s) to win the men's final, improving on the 10.34 he had clocked in the semifinals earlier in the day. China's Hangyu Zhang finished second in 10.57, while Poland's Szymon Dolega took third in 10.61.
Nwankwo completed the Nigerian sprint double with a wind-assisted 11.16 (2.4m/s) in the women's final, finishing ahead of UAE's Arwa Ali (11.41) and Qatar's Dana Salem (11.48).
Another Games record fell in the women's 100m hurdles, where China's Keyi Zhang clocked an Asian U18 record of 13.17 (0.1m/s). She finished 0.40 clear of France's Anna Peeters, who took silver in 13.57.
Kenya also enjoyed a successful opening day, claiming two titles in the distance events, both at the expense of Ethiopian opposition.
Abigael Kosgei won the women's 2000m steeplechase in a world U18 lead of 6:30.24, with Ethiopia's Tsedikan Mekonen second in 6:32.15.
Enock Tuitoek then secured Kenya's second gold, winning a close men's 3000m contest in 8:07.69. Ethiopia's Goytom Mekonen finished just 0.55 behind, clocking a PB of 8:08.24.
Two European U18 champions added Youth Olympic gold medals to their collections. France's Julie Bourgis cleared 4.20m to win the women's pole vault, while Cyprus's Marina Hadjicosta took the discus title with a throw of 53.20m.
Spain's Gift Okunrobo, a double medallist at the European U18 Championships earlier this year, also struck gold in the women's triple jump, winning a close contest with a leap of 12.69m.

Nigeria's Gift Bright and Rosemary Nwankwo claimed the men's and women's 100m titles as athletics got under way at the Youth Olympic Games 

Bright and Nwankwo lead Nigerian 100m double at Youth Olympics

Spain&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de It&aacute;lica, the third Gold-level meeting of this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, held in Santiponce on the outskirts of Seville on Sunday (8).
Kwizera earned his third victory at the event, equalling the record held by Kenenisa Bekele, while Amebaw secured her first win after finishing third last year.
The men&rsquo;s 9.55km race began with Spanish steeplechaser Dani Arce leading alongside compatriots Juan Antonio P&eacute;rez and Miguel Chazarra, while the main favourites settled into the chasing pack. The opening 2370m lap was covered in a moderate 6:59, with a sizeable group still together.
The pace remained steady during the second lap, covered in 7:08, before Uganda&rsquo;s Dismas Yeko began to push harder. The leading group was reduced to nine, with three-time world cross-country silver medallist Berihu Aregawi remaining towards the back.
Kenya&rsquo;s Charles Kiboino then increased the tempo, covering the third lap in 6:44. Aregawi began to lose ground, as did Kenya&rsquo;s Denis Kipkemoi and Spanish duo Chazarra and Thierry Ndikumwenayo.
With the clock reading 19:45, only Kwizera and Kenya&rsquo;s world U20 cross-country and 5000m champion Frankline Kibet could stay with Kiboino.
The final lap developed into a thrilling contest as Kiboino attempted to break clear, but neither Kwizera nor Kibet could be shaken off. The trio entered the final 200m together before Kwizera unleashed his finishing speed to edge his two younger rivals.
Kwizera crossed the line in 27:37, one second ahead of Kiboino, with Kibet another second behind in third.
&ldquo;The circuit had some minor changes, but they made it tougher,&rdquo; said Kwizera, who has won the World Athletics Cross Country Tour for the past four seasons. &ldquo;The young Kenyans pushed me to the limit, but I knew the circuit and was confident in my finishing speed.
&ldquo;After so many years competing as a foreigner in Spain, this first victory as a Spaniard means a lot to me and my coach Llu&iacute;s Torl&agrave;.&rdquo;
<h2>Amebaw strikes on final lap</h2>
The women&rsquo;s 9.55km race was initially led by Uganda&rsquo;s world U20 5000m champion Charity Cherop, followed closely by Amebaw, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Yenenesh Shimket, Kenyans Maurine Chebor and Cynthia Chepkurui, and Burundi&rsquo;s Francine Niyomukunzi.
Cherop continued to push the pace through the opening lap, covered in 8:00, gradually reducing the leading group to four as Niyomukunzi and Chebor dropped back.
The Ugandan maintained her relentless pace on the second lap, clocking 7:32, with Amebaw tucked in behind while Chepkurui and Shimket followed in single file. Shimket then lost contact midway through the third lap, leaving three athletes in contention for victory.
After another fast lap of 7:30, Chepkurui began to struggle and Amebaw launched a decisive attack at the bell, immediately opening a gap on Cherop.
The Ethiopian, who is based in Peguerinos in the Spanish province of &Aacute;vila, maintained her advantage throughout the final lap to win in 30:41, eight seconds ahead of Cherop. Chepkurui completed the podium in 30:57.
Further back, the Netherlands&rsquo; Amina Maatoug finished seventh to take the honours as the leading European, 33 seconds ahead of Spain&rsquo;s Carolina Robles in eighth.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m especially happy because this is my first win here,&rdquo; said Amebaw. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m impressed by the level shown by the young athletes, especially Cherop, but I managed to stay close to her before breaking away on the last lap, which was my pre-race tactic.&rdquo;
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Men (9.55km) 1 Rodrigue Kwizera (ESP) 27:37 2 Charles Kiboino (KEN) 27:38 3 Frankline Kibet (KEN) 27:39 4 Denis Kipkemoi (KEN) 27:52 5 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 27:59 6 Miguel Chazarra (ESP) 28:00 7 Andrew Alamisi (KEN) 28:17 8 Dismas Yeko (UGA) 28:24 9 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 28:24 10 Samuel Simba Cherop (UGA) 28:42
Women (9.55km) 1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 30:41 2 Charity Cherop (UGA) 30:49 3 Cynthia Chepkurui (KEN) 30:57 4 Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) 31:24 5 Maurine Chebor (KEN) 32:02 6 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 32:06 7 Amina Maatoug (NED) 32:18 8 Carolina Robles (ESP) 32:51 9 Mar&iacute;a Forero (ESP) 33:16 10 Elena Burkard (GER) 33:21

Spain’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de Itálica

Kwizera and Amebaw triumph in Seville

When athletics gets under way on 8 November at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, four members of the first Refugee Olympic Team to compete at the event will line up aiming for more than medals.
They are part of a six-strong team representing a global refugee population of more than 41 million and, for the young athletes involved, Dakar represents an opportunity to pursue sporting ambitions while opening new pathways beyond competition.
Since late August, the four track athletes have prepared at the Complete Sports Athletics Training Centre in Kaptagat, Kenya, alongside judoka Arno Yfunga and taekwondo athlete Lourance Namukiza.
Selected from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and refugee settlements in Uganda, the athletes spent their final weeks preparing at more than 2400m above sea level in Kenya&rsquo;s Rift Valley.
Dakar 2026, the first Youth Olympic Games staged in Africa, now gives them the chance to make history.
Nyataba Gatloth, a 17-year-old 800m athlete who arrived in Kakuma in 2022, hopes to win a medal in Dakar.
Her preparations have combined education with training under coach Joseph Longok in Kakuma and, more recently, the more intensive programme in Kaptagat, where she met head coach and 2007 world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei.
For Gatloth, success would also provide inspiration for other young athletes in Kakuma.
Another 800m athlete, Clement Niyomuhoza, who is originally from Burundi, considers his selection for Dakar a life-changing opportunity.
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t imagine I would be selected to represent refugee athletes in Dakar. This has shown me and other boys in Kakuma that hard work can take us to places that we have never dreamt about. I want them to develop interest in and love the sport because they are talented,&rdquo; says Niyomuhoza.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aef85121d47dfc56879a35f.JPG" alt="Rashid Roshain (left) joins other sprinters for a jog in Kaptagat" />
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Rashid Roshain (left) joins other sprinters for a jog in Kaptagat (&copy; Stephen Rutto)
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Rachid Rochene, a 200m sprinter, arrived in Uganda with his mother and siblings in 2014 after his family fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 16-year-old, whose talent was spotted while training in Uganda, hopes Dakar will be the start of further opportunities on and off the track.
A meeting in Kaptagat with refugee team mentor and two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge provided further inspiration.
&ldquo;In Dakar, I want to run a good time and achieve a medal,&rdquo; says Rochene. &ldquo;I like Usain Bolt. Whenever I see him, I see myself. I want to break records. His style of sprinting and his achievements inspire me a lot.&rdquo;
Like Rochene, 200m sprinter Florence Masumbe is based in Uganda after her family fled the DRC when she was a baby.
&ldquo;I believe that I can perform well in Dakar. I want to prove that refugees are talented and can make history. I want to run 27 seconds in the 200m,&rdquo; she says.
Longok believes the refugee athletics programme is already having an impact beyond competition. He says girls now make up 70% of refugees enrolled in sports programmes at Kakuma.
Kipchoge, who has mentored the refugee programme since 2023, says much of his role is about helping the young athletes believe they have the same potential as their peers.
&ldquo;Having their own space in Dakar gives them more power and is a show of respect,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Athletes who fly their nations&rsquo; colours are proud of their country, but those who carry the refugee flag have a huge challenge.
&ldquo;I tell them that you are part of the global community. It is my happiness to succeed in changing their minds, to start believing in themselves and to know that they have the same potential and opportunities as other athletes.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aef85401d47dfc56879a362.jpeg" alt="Lourance Namukiza, Clement Niyomuhoza, Rashid Roshain, Nyataba Kuek and Florence Masumbe with Eliud Kipchoge" />
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Lourance Namukiza, Clement Niyomuhoza, Rashid Roshain, Nyataba Kuek and Florence Masumbe with Eliud Kipchoge (&copy; Stephen Rutto)
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World Athletics, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, UNHCR and the National Olympic Committees and athletics federations of Kenya and Uganda have worked together to support the athletes&rsquo; development.
Alice Annibali, World Athletics Senior Manager for Athletics for a Better World, says moving the athletes from the hot conditions of Kakuma and western Uganda to high-altitude Kaptagat provided them with an ideal final preparation camp.
&ldquo;With our consolidated efforts through sport and education, we are changing mindsets one step at a time and always in the best interests of our refugee athletes,&rdquo; Annibali says.
World Athletics&rsquo; U20 refugee programme was launched as a pilot in 2022 and has since expanded from Kenya into Uganda. Its work has been strengthened this year by a Memorandum of Understanding between World Athletics and UNHCR, aimed at expanding opportunities for refugee athletes and communities.
Few people understand the potential impact of those opportunities better than Yiech Pur Biel, Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team in Dakar.
Originally from South Sudan, Biel spent much of his childhood in Kakuma Refugee Camp before competing in the 800m for the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He later became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and IOC member and now sits on the board of the Olympic Refuge Foundation.
The pathway that took Biel from Kakuma to the Olympic stage is one the young athletes in Dakar now hope to follow.
Their participation also forms part of World Athletics&rsquo; latest commitment under the Joint Sport Pledge, reaffirmed at the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review in Geneva in December 2025, to provide refugee athletes with competition, training, education and safeguarding opportunities.
For Kipchoge, the message to the team is simple.
&ldquo;We are one and we have no other world. This is our home, and let us promote the values of Olympic solidarity.&rdquo;
Stephen Rutto for World Athletics

When athletics gets under way on 8 November at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, four members of the first Refugee Olympic Team to compete at the event will line up aiming for more than medals

Refugee athletes aim high on historic Youth Olympic debut

World Athletics is pleased to announce the three finalists for the International Fair Play Award, celebrated as part of the World Athletics Awards 2026.
Earlier this year, the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), in partnership with World Athletics, again invited fans across the world to nominate moments that epitomise fair play with a view to recognising one standout athlete or moment.
A jury was empanelled to review the nominations and fans can now cast their votes through the World Athletics social media channels for the shortlisted moment that they feel best exemplifies fair play. The fan vote will close on 16 November, and these votes will be combined with votes from the jury members to decide the overall winner. The winner will be announced ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place on Sunday 29 November.
<h2>Finalists</h2>
<h3>Irine Cheptai</h3>
Kenya&rsquo;s Irine Cheptai showed exceptional sportsmanship during the Sydney Marathon by sharing water with Australian Paralympic athlete Michael Roeger.
Born without his lower right arm, Roeger missed four drink stations because the tables and bottles were positioned on the right-hand side of the course. At around the 30km mark, Cheptai did not hesitate to offer him her drink to help him continue.
Roeger went on to finish in 2:18:36, breaking his own T46 marathon world record. Cheptai&rsquo;s spontaneous act was a powerful example of empathy, inclusion and solidarity in sport.
<iframe title="Irine Cheptai" src="https://youtube.com/embed/4jTHFM9m7vM" width="315" height="560" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>Mondo Duplantis and Emmanouil Karalis</h3>
Pole vault stars Mondo Duplantis and Emmanouil Karalis were nominated for the way they combine fierce competition with genuine friendship and mutual respect.
Their relationship was particularly evident at the Zurich Diamond League meeting, where they respectively cleared an outdoor world lead of 6.25m and a Greek record of 6.20m. Despite competing at the highest level and pushing each other to new heights, they demonstrated that ambition and rivalry do not have to come at the expense of camaraderie.
Together, they offer an inspiring example of how athletes can challenge one another, celebrate each other's achievements, and strengthen the spirit of the sport.
<iframe title="Mondo Duplantis and Emmanouil Karalis" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Jxz_PClSf48" width="315" height="560" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>'Superstar' Boston runners</h3>
After almost three hours on their feet and with the finish line in sight, two runners sacrificed personal bests to come to the rescue of an exhausted competitor at the Boston Marathon.
Aaron Beggs was the first to stop to pull Ajay Haridasse up off the ground after he fell and could not get up. With Haridasse still struggling to stay on his feet, another runner, Robson De Oliveira, stepped in and the pair put their arms around Haridasse to help him across the line. 
Beggs is a member of North Down Athletic Club in Northern Ireland, which hailed him as a "superstar" who "couldn't pass an athlete in distress".
"What a gentleman! What a phenomenal sportsman. Our Aaron Beggs," the club said on social media.
<iframe title="Superstar Boston runners" src="https://youtube.com/embed/JULuEC3TLnc" width="315" height="560" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The CIFP is an IOC-recognised organisation founded in 1963 by UNESCO and leading international sports governing bodies. For more than 60 years, the CIFP has served as the global guardian of sporting ethics, honouring those who prioritise integrity and the human spirit over victory at any cost. Most recently, the UN designated 19 May as World Fair Play Day. Through its prestigious World Fair Play Awards and global educational initiatives, the CIFP ensures that the fundamental values of sport &ndash; respect, friendship, and fair play &ndash; are preserved for future generations. CIFP&rsquo;s first collaboration with World Athletics dates back to the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. Thirteen awards have been handed out since then. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.fairplayinternational.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.fairplayinternational.org</a>.
<h3>Jury members</h3>
Valerie Adams &ndash; World Athletics Athletes&rsquo; Commission Chair Sally Pearson &ndash; Olympic and world 100m hurdles gold medallist Paula Radcliffe &ndash; Former world marathon record-holder Jon Ridgeon &ndash; World Athletics CEO Sunil Sabharwal &ndash; International Fair Play Committee President Tim Van de Velde &ndash; 2025 Fair Play Award winner
World Athletics

World Athletics is pleased to announce the three finalists for the International Fair Play Award, celebrated as part of the World Athletics Awards 2026.

Finalists announced for 2026 Fair Play Award

Vahida Kozic attended the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 as national team head coach and team leader for the Bosnia and Herzegovina federation.
A lecturer and administrator, Kozic has completed the World Athletics Coaches Education and Certification System Level 3 and is a member of the European Athletics Coaches Association. She was a recipient of the European Athletics Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award in 2018.
As part of a series on mentorship and gender leadership, she shared insight into her career in athletics. 
What first inspired you to become involved in athletics?
&ldquo;My journey began with my own participation in sports, especially athletics. I was driven by competing and winning so much, it became an undeniable passion. I competed at a national level in both athletics and football and constantly strived for those intense moments on the field, it's what made me feel alive. But soon I realised that what really fascinated me were the situations that happened around the sport
&ldquo;During my competitive years, I took on supporting roles on the side. I often worked as an assistant, helping with competition and refereeing. It gave me an amazing insight into our sport. This is what really inspired me to stay involved long-term, because I realised that sport does not just bring excitement for a first-place achievement, but it also deeply shapes personalities and teaches core values.
&ldquo;Through different experiences, I understood how much our sport depends on the people working behind the scenes, and how critical every role is. By choosing this path, I was naturally led towards coaching and education in the field of sports science. This is what inspired the rest of my personal education. I completed my PhD in kinesiology at the University of Zagreb and set my life on a secure path which gave me a good academic foundation.
&ldquo;Besides the diplomas, what truly inspired and taught me the most was working directly with athletes, coaches and support people on the field. All of this was what shaped my profession and intensified my love for this sport. Throughout different contributions and developments for Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have found the one path I truly believe I can excel in.&rdquo; 
You wear many hats as a team leader, head coach, lecturer and administrator. How have these different roles shaped your understanding of the sport?
&ldquo;Every one of these roles undeniably offers different perspectives, each vital and complex in their own way. When we look at the bigger picture, often as it is, smaller countries are understaffed. We always have people who work in multiple positions at the same time, to keep the sport alive. This is what athletics requires, whether we like it or not.
&ldquo;When I first started working as a coach, it took me time to understand what focus on an individual meant. There are so many factors that must be considered &ndash; an athlete&rsquo;s overall development, their performance and their wellbeing. All of this is not as pretty or easy as it sounds. Often, it is filled with trial and error, which becomes difficult as the years go by. Young athletes, for example, go through different stages in their early years, and understanding that process as a coach can be difficult.
&ldquo;But of course, we must wear multiple hats, so by going from coach to team leadership or administration, I get a broader, but less personal, perspective. It showed me how a whole system should work. This is what made me a perfectionist obsessed with organisation and overall order.
&ldquo;An unusual path I also had the chance to walk through was as a lecturer. Transferring knowledge in an understandable way can be difficult. It's not easy to be interesting, believe me, but I always try as much as possible to be engaging to my audience.&rdquo; 
How has your leadership style evolved as you have moved between coaching and administration?
&ldquo;Nothing beats experience, and so naturally coaching and administration go hand in hand in that matter. As a coach, observing and listening to my athletes is what made me a good athlete profiler, and when combining that with the sense of responsibility and understanding of the bigger picture, I can say, with confidence, that it made me more assured in decision making.
&ldquo;Combining both worlds has removed the tunnel vision I had before &ndash; both give people the free will to contribute and grow. Even when I don&rsquo;t have all the answers, having a stable support system where people feel valued and essential to the cause makes any problem solvable, which is essentially the ingredient to our success.
&ldquo;I hope in life I will never reach the final stage but will always find a way to better my work style and approach. Administration is what builds my character day by day, but coaching is what gives emotion to my work and sensibility, which I think is what we need in our system.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aecceb1276da700317985d2.jpg" alt="Vahida Kozic speaks during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme" />
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Vahida Kozic speaks during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme (&copy; ICAC / Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF))
What qualities do you believe are most important for effective leadership in athletics today?
&ldquo;Integrity and good communication. You can never go wrong in asking more and demanding answers. Everything is evolving, whether it is something we want or not, and so responsibility must prevail. I always look out for new discoveries and methods, especially with rising technology. But other than these technical aspects every leader must hold, we also need empathy and must lead by example.
&ldquo;No matter how many new athletes and new coaches arise, all of them learn from actions rather than bland words, so we as leaders have to be structured and hold authority in every moment.&rdquo; 
What are some of the barriers that you have encountered as a woman in athletics, and how did you overcome them?
&ldquo;As a woman, I come across cultural stereotypes in specific regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I try not to take any comments personally, but fight them off by working relentlessly and consistently. I have also faced limited resources that made preparation difficult. These things, whether I&rsquo;m a woman or not, will always occur, but I don&rsquo;t let it get to me.
&ldquo;Working independently and professionally, I&rsquo;m always confident I can overcome these challenges. It's important to establish a strong background, so people know you are not one to be messed with. To show people I can be a true leader, I always stick to my plans and my beliefs without letting any comments or opinions get to me.&rdquo; 
You received the European Athletics Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award in 2018. What did that recognition mean to you, and how has it influenced your work since?
&ldquo;Whenever my hard work is recognised, it fills me with confidence and a deep sense of gratefulness. This award in particular is proof that even when coming from a country with minimal resources and support, hard work and relentless trying pays off. Recognition to me is important as a woman, because we try our hardest to just have someone listen to our ideas and to achieve this award truly gives a new meaning to women and leadership.
&ldquo;Throughout the years, the journey has not become any easier, but still I constantly strive against those odds. My work through different roles brings a deep sense of responsibility, and knowing I will come across obstacles no matter what gives me courage to fight back and give the future generations reason to believe in themselves and their work. This award is truly a goal achieved and a new stepping stone in my work overall.&rdquo; 
Why is mentorship so important for women working in athletics?
&ldquo;Mentorship, other than teaching you different methods and different understandings, also brings out comfort in women. Having someone who believes in your abilities and supports you gives confidence.
&ldquo;I was fortunate to have multiple mentors, all who have influenced my career heavily. Guidance is important for women and it is a responsibility that must be carried on. The best way to honour someone's mentoring is to carry that support with you and help others in need.&rdquo; 
Who have been the most influential mentors in your career, and what lessons have stayed with you?
&ldquo;The two individuals that have helped shape my career are my athletics coach and the university mentor I worked with during my PhD. My university mentor was someone who valued discipline overall and who showed me how to think outside the box in order to understand the core of it.
&ldquo;My coach was different. He was a committed person who showed me that even in work, consistency will always beat pure talent. This is what built my mental toughness and showed me immense discomfort I had to fight with. Pushing through failure and setbacks made me committed to the game, even when there was no motivation or happiness, just me and my mind. There I found solace in pushing my limits, because I knew success would follow either way.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aecce94276da700317985cf.jpg" alt="Vahida Kozic during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme" />
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Vahida Kozic during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme (&copy; ICAC / Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF))
As someone who now mentors others, what qualities do you try to instil in the next generation of women coaches and leaders?
&ldquo;Be curious. Showing interest is the finest quality for a woman interested in coaching and leading. Having an immense drive to ask questions opens up endless opportunities to achieve valuable knowledge. From curiosity it would be fairly easy to gain competence and soon enough confidence, which is what I believe something every woman needs. Coming across high pressure and setbacks, I always want to instil resilience in young women.
&ldquo;But mostly in athletics, success is what you build deep down. We should also develop empathy so that we can see our athletes on a more personal level and further help them see their true potential.&rdquo; 
Where do you see the biggest opportunities to advance gender equity in athletics over the next few years?
&ldquo;To advance gender equity, evaluation of any past strategies is a must, so we can see what current demands should be. In reality, these things are not just numbers on paper. The biggest opportunities lie in transforming initiatives into permanent and stable structures. This requires a foundation of true competence that supports creating transparent pipelines and truly ensures women have equal access to high-performance roles. Elevating these ideas will show a greater picture of women as strong and competent leaders. I see these opportunities in education and proving that careers in sports leadership are possible and within reach.&rdquo; 
You were previously a national coordinator for the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina. What does grassroots development mean to you, and why is it so important?
&ldquo;Grassroots athletics is a foundation for everything we built towards the elite level. While it is known that only a small percentage of the children in the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme will become elite athletes, our primary goal is to implement a positive lifelong relationship between kids and sports.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This programme represents an opportunity. It's an absolute must for the entire athletics system, for kids to be able to engage in physical activity. It serves as a talent pathway, finding future coaches, volunteers and leaders. It really represents the vital foundation for the sport&rsquo;s infrastructure.&rdquo; 
How can federations create clearer pathways for young athletes, coaches and volunteers to stay involved in the sport?
&ldquo;This is a very tricky question. I cannot help but be reminded of the limited resources we have in our federation. But, in my humble opinion, the most important step is to first design a career-changing guide that will help lead athletes and inspire them to be coaches, or be involved in officiating and sport managing.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One of the most helpful ways of establishing this is by active networking. Everybody seems to be on their phones these days, so why not pair retired athletes with years of experience inside the sport so they can be mentored in the most direct way possible, online or in person.
&ldquo;Other than that, another good option is giving people small volunteering roles, like helping during competitions or any events. This can also involve young people to stay connected to the sport.&rdquo; 
As part of the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme, you recently did your World Athletics CECS Level 3 qualification in South Korea. How has the course helped you grow &ndash; not only as a coach, but also as a leader and educator?
&ldquo;When I attended the World Athletics CECS Level 3 course in South Korea, I was honoured, because it was a one-of-a-kind opportunity where I could reflect on my coaching tactics while simultaneously gaining insight into elite-level demands of today's world.
&ldquo;As a coach, this event helped with my confidence and further helped sharpen my skills in planning and managing responsibilities. As a fellow educator, I feel like the vision I have for the future in my career, coaching and leadership is much clearer.&rdquo; 
Why do you think it&rsquo;s important for other coaches, especially women, to take advantage of World Athletics&rsquo; coaching education and eLearning opportunities?
&ldquo;Women in World Athletics programmes constantly upgrade in terms of teaching methods and offer new skills, which is essential for any woman starting out. Having women coaches is a great way of achieving a greater insight into a woman's physiological and emotional struggles and changes. With this, we can better understand our athletes and let them know they can be comfortable and open with us about their needs and health challenges.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Different eLearning opportunities provide perfect solutions which allow a quality education. The more a women's coach is confident in understanding their athletes the better progress the athlete will achieve. Whether it is coaching, administration or technical organisation, eLearning gives you an opportunity to develop on a global level and be a part of a larger system.&rdquo;
Nicole Montello for the World Athletics Media Academy 
World Athletics is calling on Member Federations, Area Associations, coaches, technical officials, administrators, athletes and partners worldwide to commit their time, resources and support to mentor young girls and women in athletics as a commitment to help close the gender gap. Learn more on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/international-womens-day-2026-mentoring-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women in Athletics website</a>.
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Vahida Kozic attended the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 as national team head coach and team leader for the Bosnia and Herzegovina federation.

Kwizera and Cherop continue cross-country campaigns in Soria

Finalists announced for 2026 Women's Rising Star Award

Timetable published for World Athletics Championships Beijing 27

Win a virtual meet & greet with Masai Russell

Ntakarutimana and Niyomukunzi head fields for Pforzheim