<h3 align="center">&bull; Female athletes were the target of 87% of all abuse</h3>
<h3 align="center">&bull; 65% of all abusive posts warrant intervention from social media platforms</h3>
 In line with its commitment to making athletics a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, World Athletics today publishes findings of a study conducted during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to identify and address targeted, abusive messages sent to athletes via social media.
The study revealed disturbing levels of abuse of athletes, including sexist, racist, transphobic and homophobic posts, and unfounded doping accusations. It also unequivocally highlights the greater levels of abuse female athletes receive in comparison to their male counterparts.
These results, which follow <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/world-athletics-safeguarding-policy">the launch of World Athletics&rsquo; Safeguarding Policy</a> earlier this month, raise concerns that existing safeguarding measures on social media platforms need to be tougher to protect athletes. Online abuse may cause trauma for the affected individual and can heavily impact athletes&rsquo; performances &ndash; both in training and during competition.
The study was carried out in collaboration with Threat Matrix, an initiative by data science company Signify Group Ltd and sports investigations company Quest Global Ltd, and was developed to understand the size, scale and gravity of online abuse targeted at Olympic athletes on Twitter. It builds the foundation for the action World Athletics is taking and provides a basis for World Athletics to work more closely with social media platforms to tackle this issue.
To gain an understanding of the level of online abuse in athletics, a sample of 161 Twitter handles of current and former athletes involved in the Tokyo Olympic Games (derived from a list of 200 athletes selected by World Athletics) was tracked during the study period, starting one week prior to the Olympic opening ceremony and concluding the day after the Olympic closing ceremony (15 July &ndash; 9 August 2021).
In this timeframe, 240,707 tweets including 23,521 images, GIFs and videos were captured for analysis. This included text analysis through searches for slurs, offensive images and emojis and other phrases that could indicate abuse. It also used AI-powered Natural Language Processing to detect threats by understanding the relationship between words (allowing it to determine the difference between &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll kill you&rdquo; and &ldquo;you killed it&rdquo;, for example).
The study revealed:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">132 targeted discriminatory posts from 119 authors, with 23 of the 161 tracked athletes receiving targeted abuse.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">Out of the 23 athletes who received abuse, 16 were women with 115 of the 132 identified abusive posts directed at female athletes.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">Female athletes received 87% of all abuse.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">63% of identified abuse was directed at just two athletes &ndash; both black and female &ndash; while the two most common categories of abuse were of a sexist (29%) and/or racist (26%) nature, accounting for 55% of all identified abuse.</li>
</ul>
 <img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619f7eef2a7c51ccf670b529.png" alt="" width="100%" />
 "When we published our Safeguarding Policy earlier this month, I said athletics clubs, schools and community sports environments should be safe and happy places for those in our sport," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;In a world where we share so much of our lives online, this must apply to the virtual, as well as the physical&nbsp;world.&nbsp;This research is disturbing in so many ways but what strikes me the most is that the abuse is targeted at individuals who are celebrating and sharing their performances and talent as a way to inspire and motivate people.&nbsp;To face the kinds of abuse they have is unfathomable and we all need to do more to stop this.&nbsp;Shining a light on the issue is just the first step.&rdquo;
Unfounded doping accusations made up 25% of abusive messages, while 10% consisted of transphobic (9%) and homophobic (1%) posts.
89% of racist abuse was targeted at US athletes, despite them representing only 23% of the study set.
Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track&amp;Field, commented: &ldquo;The entire USATF community is grateful to World Athletics for conducting this vital survey which has confirmed unfortunately what we have all known for a long time: US athletes are disproportionately targeted for abuse and hate on social media.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Increasing evidence indicates that this is driven by a huge rise in prejudice against race, gender and social status. Simply put, this type of behaviour is disgusting and utterly unacceptable. USATF remains committed to working alongside World Athletics, our athlete and constituent community, social media proprietors, the US Center for SafeSport and law enforcement to eliminate abuse and make our sport safe and welcoming for all.&rdquo;
The analysis consisted of a triage process which involved assessing each of the flagged posts, analysing their content and context and providing a view as to which one of four tiers of required action they met.
65% of abusive posts were deemed gravely abusive, thus warranting intervention from the social channel. We work closely with Twitter and have notified them of the relevant posts and users and will continue to work with their team to take appropriate actions against the perpetrators.
Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group, commented:&nbsp;&ldquo;Working on this important study with World Athletics and our partners Quest Global, has allowed us to illustrate the tactics and nuances used by bad actors in this space &ndash; while also providing clarity on the scale of the problem. Threat Matrix is focused on proactive monitoring and informed assessment of targeted discriminatory abuse, and the identification of accounts sending these messages.
&ldquo;Our goal is to shift the process from being victim-led to a proactive and preventative approach, making the athlete online experience safe, less threatening,&nbsp;and less toxic.&nbsp;We are&nbsp;grateful to World Athletics for taking a lead on this important issue.&rdquo;
Posts marked as Tier 3 made up 12%, with one serious case of erotic fixation targeting one female athlete and four cases of egregious racism. Where tweets have passed a criminal threshold, World Athletics has, together with their relevant Member Federation, passed over information to law enforcement in that country. We have also been in direct contact with respective Member Federations where abusive accounts have been identified to determine the individuals&rsquo; level of affiliation to the sport in the region.
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619f7f052a7c51ccf670b52c.png" alt="" width="100%" />
World Athletics will be conducting further research in this area and has used the findings of this survey to introduce an Online Abuse Framework for its own social media channels to ensure they are environments free from abuse.
The beauty of athletics is its diversity. We want our channels to not only represent, but to celebrate this diversity, free from harassment and abuse.
To make sure this is the case, World Athletics pledges to
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">remove hate speech, including but not limited to sexist and racist language, bullying and other misconduct from the comments sections of our channels</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">block people bringing abuse and hate to our channels</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">report the most serious cases to relevant authorities</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">ensure our channels continue to cover and celebrate diversity and equality in sport</li>
<li style="margin-left: 36px;">build on this promise to make our channels and the social media platforms used by our members a safer and more equal environment for everyone</li>
</ul>
 World Athletics will also work closely with the Safeguarding Working Group on providing appropriate materials to Area Associations and Member Federations as part of its Safeguarding Policy resources to ensure the implementation of safeguarding measures covers not just physical, but also digital spaces.
<h3><a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/619f83480b038f437f485aea.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full press release and key findings</a></h3>

65% of all abusive posts warrant intervention from social media platforms 

World Athletics publishes Online Abuse Study covering Tokyo Olympic Games

65% of all abusive posts warrant intervention from social media platforms

The Wanda Diamond League will touch down in 14 cities across four different continents in 2022, with the series set to host two meetings in China in July and August.
Track and field&rsquo;s premier one-day meeting series returns for its 13th annual cycle next summer, with the world&rsquo;s best athletes battling it out throughout the season for a place in the Wanda Diamond League Final.
Athletes will compete for points in 13 series meetings from May to September, with the most successful qualifying for the two-day season finale in Zurich and a shot at the prestigious Diamond Trophy.
After the season opener in Doha on 13 May and a trip to Birmingham (tbc) eight days later, athletes will have the chance to test out the host venue for the 2022 World Athletics Championships when the series arrives in Eugene on 28 May.
The world&rsquo;s best will then head to Rabat on 5 June, before returning to Europe for the rest of the month with meetings in Rome, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm.
After the World Athletics Championships, the Wanda Diamond League will return to China for the first time since 2019, with the Shanghai Diamond League set for 30 July and a second Chinese meeting scheduled for 6 August.
August will then see the series head to Monaco and Lausanne before the last series meeting in Brussels on 2 September.
Those athletes who have picked up enough points on the road to the final will then head to Zurich, where the 32 Wanda Diamond League champions will be crowned at a two-day season finale on 7-8 September.
Further information on the allocation of disciplines will be released before the festive season in December.
The calendar remains subject to changes depending on the global health situation in 2022, as organisers continue to prioritise the safety of athletes and fans while delivering high-quality competitions.
<a href="https://www.diamondleague.com/calendar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full 2022 Wanda Diamond League calendar</a>

The Wanda Diamond League will touch down in 14 cities across four different continents in 2022

14 Wanda Diamond League meetings in 2022 calendar

Reuben Kipyego and Vivian Kiplagat will defend their ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon titles on Friday (26), but the Kenyan duo will face a strong line-up at the World Athletics Elite Label road race.
When the Abu Dhabi Marathon last went ahead in 2019, Kipyego was initially enlisted as a pacemaker but he went on to triumph in 2:04:40, a PB at the time. He went on to reduce that to 2:04:12 in Valencia exactly one year later and then to 2:03:55 in Milan earlier this year where he finished second.
Titus Ekiru was the winner on that occasion, clocking a world-leading 2:02:57 to move to equal fifth on the world all-time list. Ekiru, who hasn&rsquo;t raced since his Milan victory, will renew his rivalry with Kipyego, who last month placed eighth at the Chicago Marathon in 2:14:24.
Aside from having the fastest PB of the field, Ekiru is also a formidable competitor, having won five of the six marathons he&rsquo;s completed to date.
Barnabas Kiptum, who finished third behind Ekiru and Kipyego in Milan, will also be in Abu Dhabi. He clocked a PB of 2:04:17 in the Italian city six months ago and will also arrive in the UAE capital on fresh legs.
Although he doesn&rsquo;t have as many career marathon victories as Ekiru, Kiptum is extremely consistent and has finished in the top five in all of his last 14 marathons.
Two-time world champion Abel Kirui can never be discounted. More than 12 years have passed since his first World Championships victory, but the 39-year-old Kenyan came within one second of his PB last year, clocking 2:05:05 in Valencia.
Three-time Toronto Marathon winner Philemon Rono and 2017 world bronze medallist Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania are also ones to watch, as is Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom, who will be keen to reclaim the Eritrean record, having recently surrendered it to Hizkel Tewelde.
Vivian Kiplagat&rsquo;s 2:21:11 clocking from her 2019 Abu Dhabi victory still stands as her PB. The 30-year-old Kenyan was on course to break that at last month&rsquo;s Chicago Marathon, passing through the half-way point in second place in a swift 1:08:50, but she faded in the closing stages and eventually finished fifth in 2:29:14.
Having had almost seven weeks to recover, Kiplagat &ndash; who set a half marathon PB of 1:06:07 in September &ndash; will aim to retain her Abu Dhabi title and improve on the course record she set two years ago.
Alemu Megertu&rsquo;s PB is just one second faster than Kiplagat&rsquo;s, making her the fastest woman in this year&rsquo;s field. The Ethiopian&rsquo;s only outing in 2021 was a 13th-place finish in London in 2:27:18, having passed through half way in 1:08:52 &ndash; almost identical to Kiplagat&rsquo;s equivalent split in Chicago. A better-paced effort from both women could result in an enthralling duel.
Eunice Chumba may not have the fastest PB of the field, but the Bahraini is a smart racer. She finished second in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and fourth in 2019, while this year she clocked a PB of 2:23:10 in Milan and finished seventh at the Olympic Games.
Others to watch out for include 2011 world bronze medallist and 2012 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop, 2014 Houston and Rotterdam winner Abebech Afework, 2014 Amsterdam champion Betelhem Moges and 2009 world 10,000m bronze medallist Wude Ayalew Yimer, the runner-up in Abu Dhabi two years ago.
<h2>Elite fields</h2>
Women Megertu Alemu Kebede (ETH) 2:21:10 Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) 2:21:11 Sharon Cherop (KEN) 2:22:28 Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH) 2:22:45 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:23:10 Abebech Afework Bekele (ETH) 2:23:33 Betelhem Moges (ETH) 2:23:38 Monica Jepkoech (KEN) 2:23:59 Wude Ayalew Yimer (ETH) 2:24:03 Letebrhan Haylay (ETH) 2:24:47 Judith Korir (KEN) 2:26:52 Nurit Shimels (ETH) 2:27:40 Immaculate Chemutai (UGA) 2:29:09 Almaz Gelana (ETH) 2:29:59
Men Titus Ekiru (KEN) 2:02:57 Reuben Kipyego (KEN) 2:03:55 Barnabas Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:17 Philemon Rono (KEN) 2:05:00 Abel Kirui (KEN) 2:05:04 Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (ERI) 2:05:53 Thomas Kiplagat (KEN) 2:06:00 Hicham Laqouahi (MAR) 2:06:32 Asefa Bedada (ETH) 2:06:39 Abdi Asefa (ETH) 2:06:43 Shumi Dechasa (BRN) 2:06:43 Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:07:39 Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) 2:08:27 Alemu Gemechu (ETH) 2:08:47 Felix Kimutai (KEN) 2:09:23

Reuben Kipyego and Vivian Kiplagat will defend their ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon titles on Friday (26), but the Kenyan duo will face a strong line-up at the World Athletics Elite Label road race.

Defending champions Kipyego and Kiplagat face tough test in Abu Dhabi

There are just 100 days to go until the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 and to mark the milestone in the countdown, the local organising committee has unveiled the exclusive brand identity for the event.
The artwork features iconic Muscat landmarks, including the Al Alam Palace, the Riyam Park monument and the Al Sahwa Clock Tower above a traditional Omani tile pattern motif. 
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/large/619e406c602f74d8b6e2dbba.png" alt="" width="600" height="400" />
&ldquo;Plans for the event are progressing rapidly,&rdquo; said Sheikh Salim Al Amri, President of the Oman Athletics Association. &ldquo;We have held work sessions together to narrow down the details and deliver a highly professional, well-coordinated event for athletes, coaches and international media.
&ldquo;This is a unique opportunity for Oman to enhance athletics within the country and establish ourselves as a viable host nation for future events and we are determined to make sure the 2022 Race Walking Team Championships live long in the memory.&rdquo;
It will be the first time the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships have been held in the Middle East. It&rsquo;s also the first time an Asian nation other than China has hosted the event. The championships were originally due to be held in Minsk, Belarus, but the ongoing travel restrictions caused by Covid-19 forced the event to be rescheduled.
Racing will take place around the pristine landscaped gardens of the Oman Convention &amp; Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in the heart of Muscat. The week of racing will be a celebration of athletics with fun runs taking place either side of the main competition, as well as an on-site health and fitness exhibition to help inspire local athletes and visitors to become more active.
&ldquo;This is a great achievement for Oman and we are incredibly proud to host the 2022 Race Walking Team Championships,&rdquo; said Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the OCEC. &ldquo;To take such a leading role in Oman&rsquo;s sporting evolution is a responsibility we are delighted to have, and hopefully this will be the first of many World Athletics events to visit our nation.&rdquo;
The championships will feature 20km and 35km races for senior men and women, plus 10km races for U20 men and women.
&ldquo;We have had success hosting a wide variety of high-profile sporting events over recent years and this is the next step forward for our development as an attractive venue for major events,&rdquo; said Khamis Al Jabri, CEO of the local organising committee. &ldquo;Oman has built a strong reputation on its authenticity and hospitality, and the benefits of hosting the 2022 World Race Walking Team Championships will reach far and wide. Local SMEs will benefit, athletes of all ages can be inspired to realise their ambitions on home soil, and this is the ideal platform to showcase our capabilities to a new global sporting audience.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 is expected to attract more than 1000 inbound visitors, including athletes, coaches, delegates, friends and family. Training camps will also be established at various resorts in Nizwa to allow competitors to acclimatise before the event.
LOC for World Athletics

Just 100 days to go until the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22

Preparations well under way for World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22

There are just 100 days to go until the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 and to mark the milestone in the countdown, the local organising committee has unveiled the exclusive brand identity for the event.

We continue our countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2021 on 1 December by taking a closer look at the achievements of the five women and five men who have this week been confirmed as the finalists for the Athlete of the Year awards.
&nbsp;
<h2>Sifan Hassan</h2>
&ldquo;If you do long distance,&rdquo; said Sifan Hassan after claiming her third Olympic medal in Tokyo, &ldquo;it's like building a house.&rdquo; If that&rsquo;s the case, then the Dutch distance running star has produced a palace in 2021.
Hassan was replying to a comment about her having been seen running in the Olympic Village in between her nine-day schedule of six races in Japan. "It's not only about talent,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;You can have two or three talents, but you have to work hard also."
So there she was, building hard towards her unprecedented medal treble. It paid off, as she left Japan with two golds, in the 5000m and 10,000m, plus bronze in the 1500m. Eleventh on the medals table &ndash; that&rsquo;s where Hassan would have placed had she formed her own one-woman team.
"Many people doubted that it would happen,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Is it possible, is it not possible? When I think about it, it feels like a dream. But it has happened.
&ldquo;This Olympics is one of the best feelings I've ever had in my life. It's something special. I'll never forget it.&rdquo;
Hassan&rsquo;s season had started with wins over 5000m and 800m in the USA in May, but she took things to another level a couple of weeks later. Running 29:06.82 at the FBK Games in Hengelo, the 28-year-old took more than 10 seconds off the world 10,000m record that had been set by Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. 
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 &ldquo;I am so happy to share this record in front of my Dutch fans,&rdquo; said Hassan, who had previously broken world records in the mile, one hour event and road 5km.
Incredibly, the 10,000m mark stood just two days, as back on the same Hengelo track, Letesenbet Gidey improved it by a further five seconds to 29:01.03 to win the Ethiopian Trials.
But rather than that world record being the pinnacle of her season, Hassan was only just getting started. Four days after her Hengelo run, she ran 3:53.63 for a 1500m win at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Florence. The following month she clocked 3:53.60 to place second in Monaco &ndash; behind Kenya&rsquo;s Faith Kipyegon, who would go on to retain her Olympic title &ndash; and then it was time for Tokyo. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/610e7eb7455c4a1d10ace1c5.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />
 First came 5000m gold. Despite running, and falling, in the 1500m heats earlier on in the day, Hassan returned to the track 12 hours later to clock 14:36.79 after timing her winning kick to perfection.
Four days later she secured bronze in the 1500m behind Kipyegon and Britain&rsquo;s Laura Muir and she was back on the track less than 24 hours after that, seeking to become only the second woman after Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tirunesh Dibaba in 2008 to complete the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m double.
She achieved it. Unleashing her trademark kick, she covered the final 100m in 13.6, clocking 29:55.32 to get gold.
&ldquo;I am so happy and I cried during the medal ceremony,&rdquo; said Hassan. &ldquo;I actually realised that I am done, the Games are over.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<h2>Joshua Cheptegei</h2>
The world 5000m record-breaker became the Olympic champion in 2021. Despite wondering whether he should even race the event at all in Tokyo, Joshua Cheptegei rebounded to get 5000m gold, running the second-fastest ever Olympic time of 12:58.15 one week after securing silver in the 10,000m.
&ldquo;I have learned the most important things are achieved no matter the difficulties or challenges,&rdquo; Cheptegei told NN Running Team when reflecting on his year. &ldquo;Of course, I don&rsquo;t look at my medal every day, but when I do it acts as a reminder that, wow, I can fight back, and I know in the future I can get better and better.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s an exciting prospect, given that the Ugandan 25-year-old is already a treble world record-holder, a world champion and now an Olympic champion.
After the high of setting world records at 5000m, 10,000m and 5km on the road in 2020, Cheptegei started this year on a winning note, claiming victory at the Monaco Run &ndash; the same event at which he broke the world record with 12:51 12 months earlier. 
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 But then an infection affected his preparations for the Olympic Games and after a 3000m win at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Ostrava, he was disappointed to place sixth at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Florence. &ldquo;I was not really healthy at the time with an infection. It shattered my body,&rdquo; he said.
After winning the world 10,000m title in Doha in 2019, Cheptegei was determined to add another global title to his CV, so he refocused ahead of the Olympics. Lining up for his sole 10,000m race of the year, he was slightly ahead with four laps to go and followed Ethiopia&rsquo;s Selemon Barega as he led at the bell, crossing the finish line in 27:43.63 for his first Olympic medal.
Four days later he was back in action for the 5000m heats, before he took his place in the final a week after his 10,000m silver medal performance.
&ldquo;Part of me thought it was not a wise decision to race,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but the other part said, no, you&rsquo;ve prepared for this.&rdquo;
This time, only a win would do. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/610d367cc628cc00175b7a4a.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />
 With 600m remaining, he made his move and surged away untroubled, gaining victory in 12:58.15 &ndash; a winning time only bettered at the Olympics by Kenenisa Bekele&rsquo;s Games record of 12:57.82 from 2008.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really a great moment,&rdquo; he said afterwards. &ldquo;I made a small mistake and I was regretting (having) to become a silver medallist (in the 10,000m).
&ldquo;I came here to become an Olympic champion and my dream has been fulfilled today on a beautiful evening.&rdquo;
After Tokyo, he had one more race left to run &ndash; the two miles at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene. Clocking a world-leading 8:09.55, he ended his year on a high.
&ldquo;It really means a lot to me to win here in Oregon,&rdquo; he said, fresh from racing on the track that will host next year&rsquo;s World Athletics Championships, &ldquo;and it will always be in my heart.&rdquo;

We take a closer look at the achievements of the five women and five men who have been confirmed as finalists for Athlete of the Year.

Focus on finalists: Sifan Hassan and Joshua Cheptegei

With eight&nbsp;days to go until the&nbsp;World Athletics Awards 2021, the names of the five finalists for Female World Athlete of the Year have been confirmed.
The five athletes, who represent five countries from four area associations, have produced some exceptional performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2021, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Sifan Hassan, NED - Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion - Olympic 1500m bronze medallist - Broke the world 10,000m record
Faith Kipyegon, KEN - Olympic 1500m champion - Diamond League 1500m champion - Kenyan 1500m record
Sydney McLaughlin, USA - Olympic 400m hurdles champion - Olympic 4x400m champion - Set two world 400m hurdles records
Yulimar Rojas, VEN - Olympic triple jump champion - Diamond League triple jump champion - World triple jump record
Elaine Thompson-Herah, JAM - Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion - Diamond League 100m champion - National 100m and 200m records, second fastest of all time 
<h3>Voting procedure for 2021 World Athletes of the Year</h3>
A three-way voting process determined the finalists.
The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans voted online via the World Athletics social media platforms. The World Athletics Council&rsquo;s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family&rsquo;s votes and the public votes each counted for 25% of the final result.
Voting closed on 6 November.
The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced at the World Athletics Awards 2021, which will be held virtually on 1 December.
World Athletics

World Athletics is pleased to confirm the five finalists for Female World Athlete of the Year.

Finalists announced for Female World Athlete of the Year 2021

As the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2021 continues, a&nbsp;digital exhibition has been created featuring&nbsp;the 25 images shortlisted for the Photograph of the Year award.
From the 112 images that were submitted, a panel of judges &ndash; comprising Raquel Cavaco Nunes, Ivo Gonzalez, Pascal Rondeau, Akani Simbine and Katerina Stefanidi &ndash; selected the below 25 shortlisted images and then the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/world-athletics-photograph-year-2021-finalists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three finalists</a>.
The finalists were announced on 16 November and the winning photograph will be revealed during the World Athletics Awards 2021 on 1 December.
&nbsp;
<h2>Digital exhibition of shortlisted images</h2>
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bc93bd72b7995b5a7e460.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Neeraj Chopra of India competes in the men's javelin throw final during the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Christian Bruna, European Pressphoto Agency B.V.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bca11d72b7995b5a7e463.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Athletes' reflection on the track. The heptathlon at the 14th Chinese National Games, won by&nbsp;Ninali Zheng Photo by Yujia Dou, Track &amp; Field Camp
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bcac3d72b7995b5a7e466.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Joy. Athletes celebrate at the World Athletics Relays in Silesia Photo by Michal Dubiel, 400mm.pl
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bcc6df9144532a3313e2e.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs wins the gold medal in the men's 100m final at the Tokyo Olympics&nbsp; Photo by Naoki Enokido
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bcce1f9144532a3313e31.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />An athlete competes in the classic pentathlon at the Czech Republic Veterans Championships Photo by Eduard Erben, CPA
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/61925906447534976d7b8a7e.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Viktoriya Tkachuk of Ukraine competes in the women&rsquo;s 400m hurdles semifinals at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Vegard Grott, Bildbyran
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/61925975447534976d7b8a84.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Sweden&rsquo;s Mondo Duplantis competes in the men's pole vault final at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Matthias Hangst, Getty Images
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bcf1ff026a6c5c80a98c4.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Decathletes celebrate together following their competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Richard Heathcote, Getty Images
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bcfc2f026a6c5c80a98c7.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Portugal&rsquo;s Pedro Pichardo celebrates his win in the men&rsquo;s triple jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd088f026a6c5c80a98ca.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Karsten Warholm of Norway reacts after crossing the finish line having broken the men&rsquo;s world 400m hurdles record to win Olympic gold in Tokyo Photo by Kota Kiriyama, The Sankei Shimbun
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd10d397b78ee3f4f5276.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Kaede Maegawa of Japan competes in the women&rsquo;s long jump T42 final during the Tokyo Paralympic Games&nbsp; Photo by Joel Marklund, OIS (Olympic Information Service)
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd197397b78ee3f4f5279.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Kyle Blignaut of South Africa in action during men's shot put qualification at the Olympic Games in Tokyo Photo by Dylan Martinez, Reuters
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd2aaf026a6c5c80a98cd.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />The Hunger (athletics) Games. Pole vaulter Malen Ruiz De Azua competes at the European Athletics Team Championships Super League in Silesia Photo by Sergio Mateo Maria, Sportmedia
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd332f026a6c5c80a98ce.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />General view of the silhouettes of athletes in action as rain falls during the third women's 400m hurdles semifinal at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Hannah McKay, Reuters
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd3c5f026a6c5c80a98d1.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Brazil&rsquo;s Lucas Mazzo, with a Brazilian flag emblazoned contact lens, cools down during the men&rsquo;s 20km race walk at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by&nbsp;Morgan Treacy, INPHO
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd432f026a6c5c80a98d4.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Ntando Mahlangu of South Africa competes in the men&rsquo;s long jump T63 final at the Tokyo Paralympic Games Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd4a8f026a6c5c80a98d7.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Yulimar Rojas from Venezuela reacts after her last attempt during the final of the women&rsquo;s triple jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games. With a jump of 15.67m from her final attempt, she breaks the Olympic and world record Photo by Oscar Munoz Badilla, freelance / fotografiadeportiva
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/61925940447534976d7b8a81.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Rachel McCoy of the United States competes in the women's high jump qualification at the Tokyo Olympic Games while her fellow competitors shelter from the sun Photo by Ryan Pierse, Getty Images
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd528f026a6c5c80a98da.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />A pole vault competitor is reflected in a puddle at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni, Delegacion de la Agencia Efe en la Republica Argentina
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd5a0f026a6c5c80a98dd.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />USA&rsquo;s Tara Davis jumps at the Tokyo Olympic Games, with her hair falling into the sand pit Photo by Felix Sanchez Arrazola,&nbsp;Fotorunners
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd653af5892f62390619c.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Due to Covid-19 restrictions in South Africa, a marathon is run on a motorsport race track, in dark and very cold conditions. This marathon at Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town served as a last-minute opportunity for elite athletes from South Africa, and her neighbouring countries, to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo Photo by Roger Sedres, Image SA / Gallo Images
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd6e9e639d1a22e51f9cc.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Jorge Urena of Spain competes in the decathlon high jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Patrick Smith, Getty Images
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd748e639d1a22e51f9cf.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />USA's Raven Saunders reacts as she competes in the women's shot put final during the Tokyo Olympic Games Photo by Ben Stansall, AFP
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd7d8e639d1a22e51f9d2.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Yanique Thompson of Jamaica pulls up as Christina Clemons of USA and Tobi Amusan of Nigeria leap in the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics Photo by Michael Steele, Getty Images
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<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619bd837f026a6c5c80a98e0.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />The Poland team celebrates after winning mixed 4x400m gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Photo by Aleksandra Szmigiel, Running Creatives / Reuters

The 25 images shortlisted for the Photograph of the Year award have been included in a digital exhibition.

Digital exhibition: 2021 World Athletics Photograph of the Year shortlisted images

With nine days to go until the&nbsp;World Athletics Awards 2021, the names of the five finalists for Male World Athlete of the Year have been confirmed.
The five athletes, who represent five countries from three area associations, have produced some exceptional performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2021, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Joshua Cheptegei, UGA - Olympic 5000m champion - Olympic 10,000m silver medallist - World-leading 8:09.55 for two miles
Ryan Crouser, USA - Olympic and Diamond League shot put champion - Undefeated all year - World shot put records indoors and outdoors
Mondo Duplantis, SWE - Olympic pole vault champion - Diamond League pole vault champion - European indoor pole vault champion
Eliud Kipchoge, KEN - Olympic marathon champion - Largest winning margin in men&rsquo;s Olympic marathon since 1972 - Winner of Enschede Marathon
Karsten Warholm, NOR - Olympic 400m hurdles champion&nbsp; - Diamond League 400m hurdles champion - World 400m hurdles record and world 300m hurdles best 
<h3>Voting procedure for 2021 World Athletes of the Year</h3>
A three-way voting process determined the finalists.
The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans voted online via the World Athletics social media platforms. The World Athletics Council&rsquo;s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family&rsquo;s votes and the public votes each counted for 25% of the final result.
Voting closed on 6 November.
The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced at the World Athletics Awards 2021, which will be held virtually on 1 December.
World Athletics

Finalists announced for Male World Athlete of the Year 2021

World Athletics is pleased to confirm the five finalists for Male World Athlete of the Year.

Kenya&rsquo;s Norah Jeruto and Burundi&rsquo;s Rodrigue Kwizera secured victories at the Cross Internacional de It&aacute;lica on the outskirts of Seville in what was the fifth World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season, held today (21) on a cloudy but dry day.
Right from the start of the women&rsquo;s 7.9km contest, Jeruto took command of the race and led a quartet that included compatriot Beatrice Chebet, Ethiopia&rsquo;s 5km world record-holder Senbere Teferi and recent Atapuerca winner Rahel Daniel. Margaret Chelimo, the defending Cross de Italica champion and world 5000m silver medallist, was a few seconds adrift of the leaders within the first few kilometres.
While Jeruto and Chebet took charge of the pacing duties, Teferi and Daniel ran at the back of the lead pack. Just before the halfway point, Chelimo made contact with the lead group and moved to the front alongside Chebet and Jeruto. Daniel, meanwhile, began to lose contact after the fourth kilometre as the race became a duel between the Kenyan trio and Teferi.
Half way through the final circuit, Teferi couldn&rsquo;t live with the pace being set by Chelimo and Jeruto. Chebet lost ground on her compatriots in the final kilometre, leaving Jeruto and Chelimo to battle for victory.
It briefly seemed as though the long-legged Chelimo would reel in the long-time leader, but Jeruto, who this year clocked a world-leading 8:53.65 in the steeplechase to move to third on the world all-time list, found an extra gear in the home straight to win marginally ahead of Chelimo, herself two seconds clear of Chebet.
The men&rsquo;s 10.1km event began at a moderate pace, set by the Spanish duo of Carlos Mayo, a 27:25.00 10,000m performer, and the 40-year-old Ayad Lamdassem, a creditable fifth at the Tokyo Olympics in the marathon. Shortly before the third kilometre, world U20 3000m champion Tadese Worku moved to the front to whittle down the leading group to six other men: fellow Ethiopian Nibret Melak, Uganda&rsquo;s Thomas Ayeko, Eritrea&rsquo;s Aron Kifle, Kwizera, Mayo and Abdessadam Oukhelfen.
The first significant move came some 15 minutes into the race when Kifle, the winner in Atapuerca last weekend, put in a surge to leave Ayeko and the Spaniards behind within a matter of seconds. Kifle and Worku then took turns at the front with Melak and Kwizera tucked behind.
Throughout the closing loop, Worku tried to shake off Melak, Kwizera and Kifle, but Kwizera was able to stick to the teenager&rsquo;s relentless pace. After negotiating the tricky final bend, Kwizera overtook Worku with relative ease to take the biggest win of his career so far in 28:33, one second ahead of the defending champion Worku, while Melak secured third spot in 28:42, seven seconds clear of Kifle.
&ldquo;Winning the It&aacute;lica permit is incredible for me,&rdquo; said 22-year-old Kwizera, who finished 11th at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m doing very well this cross country season and hope to maintain this. I feel very comfortable in cross country races but I also would like to improve my career bests on the track (13:34.65 for 5000m and 28:21.92 for 10,000m).&rdquo;
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<h2>Leading results</h2>
Women 1 Norah Jeruto (KEN) 24:22 2 Margaret Chelimo (KEN) 24:23 3 Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 24:25 4 Senbere Teferi (ETH) 24:38 5 Rahel Daniel (ERI) 24:58 6 Eva Cherono (KEN) 25:22 7 Esther Chebet (UGA) 25:27 8 Fancy Cherono (KEN) 25:37 9 Dolshi Tesfu (ERI) 25:43 10 Lucy Maiwa Muli (KEN) 25:46
Men 1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 28:33 2 Tadese Worku (ETH) 28:34 3 Nibret Melak (ETH) 28:42 4 Aron Kifle (ERI) 28:49 5 Thomas Ayeko (UGA) 28:59 6 Carlos Mayo (ESP) 29:08 7 Abdessadam Oukhelfen (ESP) 29:31 8 Albert Rop (BRN) 29:32 9 Ayad Landassem (ESP) 29:34 10 Ra&uacute;l Celada (ESP) 29:42

Kenya’s Norah Jeruto and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera secured victories at the Cross Internacional de Itálica

Jeruto and Kwizera triumph at Cross de Italica

Geoffrey Kamworor is one of the world&rsquo;s most versatile distance runners.
The Kenyan has won global medals on the track, earned three consecutive gold medals at the World Half Marathon Championships and is a back-to-back winner of the world cross-country title.
The 28-year-old has contested nine marathons to date, earning two New York City victories along the way, while splitting his focus on track, cross-country and the half marathon. But Kamworor is now ready to make a concerted effort at the classic distance, starting with the Trinidad Alfonso EDP Valencia Marathon on 5 December. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3>How did you get into running?</h3>
Geoffrey Kamworor: Running is something that came naturally to me as it was part of our lifestyle from a young age. I used to run 3km from home to my school and back again each day. Sometimes I&rsquo;d end up running 12km without really realising it.
As a kid, I&rsquo;d often go and watch athletics competition when not at school. Watching people compete and win trophies ignited my passion for running. And then in high school I&rsquo;d get a lot of encouragement whenever I&rsquo;d win a trophy or medal of my own.
&nbsp;
<h3>How would you describe your relationship with Patrick Sang?</h3>
GK: My relationship with Patrick is great and <a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/patrick-sang-distance-running-coach-kenya-kipchoge-kamworor-kipyegon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goes beyond just being a coach</a>. Patrick is my mentor; someone I admire who is always there to assist us if needed and, of course, someone who is always happy when he sees that you prosper and are doing well. He always gives so much of his time to make you the best version of yourself and to make you stronger. He has been my coach ever since I started running, and he has adjusted my training programme as I&rsquo;ve evolved from being a cross country runner to a track runner and now a road runner. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619a5a3e334ff52f3130a534.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> Geoffrey Kamworor at the Kaptagat training camp (&copy; Dan Vernon / NN Running Team)
&nbsp;
<h3>How is life at the camp?</h3>
GK: I joined the camp in 2010 and life there is very good. You are away from your family, your wife and your kids during the whole week, which makes you take your training very seriously as you are making sacrifices to achieve your goals. That&rsquo;s the only way to be focused 100% on running and to give your very best.
When you&rsquo;re at the camp, there are no distractions and your only focus is on running; you don&rsquo;t think about anything else other than running, eating and sleeping, allowing us to evolve in a very natural environment.
&nbsp;
<h3>How are you doing in your recovery from the road accident last year?</h3>
GK: I am doing great and recovering well from the accident last year. It took a lot of time but now I am healed.
When the pandemic came, our preparation, training and access to facilities were affected and we had to follow the government&rsquo;s rules and restrictions. Each athlete had to train on their own, but at least we were able to share our training programme and discuss with the coach and the rest of the training group via WhatsApp.
One Thursday in June last year, I woke up early in the morning, it was still dark outside, and I set off for a long 30km run at about 5.50am in the morning. Just a kilometre away from where I lived, I unfortunately got hit from behind by a speeding motorbike and fell down. I got bruises on my head and a serious injury to my right leg, including a small tibia fracture. My head felt okay again after two weeks, but the leg took a lot longer and I was on crutches for two months. That was a tough experience for me as I had to stay still for a couple of months.
After three months, I started some light exercises twice a week with the physio, mainly resistance work, and after that we kept building up until I was finally able to start running again. 
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nURsUqw1WNU" width="100%" height="475" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
<h3>Were you worried it could have ended your career?</h3>
GK: Of course. But when I was seen by the doctor after the operation, he ensured me I would come back and would be okay. Despite missing many competitions in 2020, I managed to make it on to the national team by producing the fastest ever 10,000m time on Kenyan soil, and my shape was great all the way up to the Olympics.
It was a disappointment not to make it to the Games after running so well in training. I felt like I was really in a position to fight for a medal in Tokyo, but injuries are part of the sport and I&rsquo;ve still got time to achieve other great things in the near future.
I&rsquo;m definitely stronger as a result of the accident. It was a challenge for sure, but it made me the athlete I am today while also giving me a lot of additional motivation.
&nbsp;
<h3>Your next race is the Valencia Marathon on 5 December. What&rsquo;s your target for that race?</h3>
GK: I am really looking forward to being on the startline in Valencia, where I won the 2018 world half marathon title. It&rsquo;s a city where people love running and sports in general. Many world records have been set in Valencia in recent years, and this city of sports is waiting for its first world marathon record.
I have big dreams and ambitions in the marathon and want to run as fast as possible and break barriers. Valencia will be ready to help us push our limits on race day and I am sure it will be amazing. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619a5a27334ff52f3130a531.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> Geoffrey Kamworor training in Kenya (&copy; Dan Vernon / NN Running Team)
&nbsp;
<h3>Your marathon PB (2:06:12) is from your debut back in 2012. Do you think that will finally be broken in Valencia?</h3>
GK: My PB might be nearly 10 years old, but that&rsquo;s mainly because I&rsquo;ve not done many fast marathons since then. I often ran the New York City Marathon, which isn&rsquo;t a fast course. I have no doubt that, on a fast course, I can go a lot faster than my current PB.
I ran my first marathon when I was just 20. Back then, I felt very strong on the long 40km runs we were doing with the other runners at the camp and during the track sessions, so I wanted to give the marathon a try. I thought it was easy back then, but I discovered it was actually a very tough event and I moved back to track distances for a while.
My preparation for Valencia has gone well. It was really unfortunate that I picked up another injury earlier in the year, forcing me to miss the Olympics. It took me six weeks to recover but now I&rsquo;m doing very well and I have no doubts about my fitness.
At some point in future, I&rsquo;ll make a full transition to the marathon. I&rsquo;m no longer focusing on cross country. I&rsquo;ll continue to do half marathons as part of marathon preparation, but my focus now is on the marathon. And I really think I can break the marathon world record in the future and run under two hours. That&rsquo;s the legacy I&rsquo;d like to leave when I end my career; it would inspire many people around the world.
&nbsp;
<h3>Is the New York City Marathon your favourite race?</h3>
GK: It will always be my favourite race. In my four appearances there, I have won twice and finished second. I&rsquo;m very familiar with the course and I love it when you reach the finish near Central Park with the trees, the buildings and the crowd.
But I also look forward to running other major marathons in future, like London, Boston or Valencia. And, of course, the Olympic marathon in Paris in 2024.
&nbsp;
<h3>Do you consider a major marathon victory as valuable as a championship win?</h3>
GK: I prefer championships, as they bring the whole world together with people from so many different countries. Winning in a world championship is something very special which makes you feel proud.
&nbsp;
<h3>What are your goals for 2022?</h3>
GK: I don&rsquo;t have any confirmed plan for 2022, but the World Athletics Championships in Oregon is in my sights and I&rsquo;d like to run the marathon there.
&nbsp;
<h3>What is your favourite training session?</h3>
GK: On average we do 30km a day and about 200-210km a week. I love long runs where we work together as team, assisting each other if ever we experience tough situations. It&rsquo;s something that really tests your fitness level. I also love the track sessions, where again we work as a team and push each other. It feels amazing. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619a5a75334ff52f3130a53a.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> Athletes from the Kaptagat training camp do a track session (&copy; Dan Vernon / NN Running Team)
&nbsp;
<h3>What do you do during your time off?</h3>
GK: When I&rsquo;m not training, I spend a lot of time with my wife and family. I have five kids, and the youngest three are triplets, who are one-and-a-half years old. We usually go to the farm, visit our parents, or go for a holiday with the kids before resuming training.
&nbsp;
<h3>Who would you say are the best long-distance runners in history?</h3>
GK: Eliud (Kipchoge) is up there with other runners such as Haile Gebrselassie, Paul Tergat and Kenenisa Bekele. And hopefully me soon!
&nbsp;
<h3>How inspiring is it to train alongside Eliud Kipchoge?</h3>
GK: Eliud is a great guy and role model for me and everyone else at the Kaptagat training camp. To me, he is like my mentor. He inspires me a lot and, by running under two hours, has proven that no one is limited. This is something that gives us hope of it happening again in official conditions. It might not be now, but it will happen. 
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/619a5a57334ff52f3130a537.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> Kenyan distance runner Geoffrey Kamworor (&copy; Dan Vernon / NN Running Team)
&nbsp;
<h3>After Kipchoge retires, can you see yourself becoming something of a new leader and mentor at the camp?</h3>
GK: Absolutely. And of course, I will continue to work and train as hard as possible to get close to what he has achieved so that I can inspire others. And when this is my turn to retire, someone else can then take over and fill my shoes.
I am also really interested in the community work Eliud does with kids and the environment. I&rsquo;ll also try to head in that direction, and I look forward to following the same route, giving back to others the way that he did. It shows that sport is something that can build you and bring people together.
 Loic Malroux for World Athletics

Three-time world half marathon champion is ready to make a concerted effort at the full marathon distance

Having mastered the track, cross and half, Kamworor sets sights on becoming marathon maestro

Uganda&rsquo;s Jacob Kiplimo broke the world record* at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday (21), clocking 57:31 at the World Athletics Label road race.
The world half marathon champion won by more than two minutes and took one second off the previous world record set by Kenya&rsquo;s Kibiwott Kandie in Valencia last year. Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tsehay Gemechu, meanwhile, broke the course record in the women's race, clocking 1:06:06.
Kiplimo, who finished third in the 10,000m and fifth in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year, started to pull away from his opponents after just three kilometres and he passed through the first 5km in 13:40.
By the time he reached 10km in 27:05, he had a lead of about one minute over the chase pack and was well on schedule to break Kandie&rsquo;s world record.
Kiplimo passed through 15km in 40:27, the fastest time ever recorded for the distance and indicative of a sub-57-minute finish. With no nearby competitors to work off, Kiplimo&rsquo;s pace dropped slightly in the closing stages, but he managed to just finish inside the world record, crossing the line in 57:31.
"With one kilometre to go, I knew that I was going to break the world record," said Kiplimo. "When I was on the final straight and saw the clock, I gave it all I had and told myself I had to sprint fast to reach the finish line."
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Esa Huseyidin Mohamed finished second in 59:39, just ahead of compatriot Gerba Beyata Dibaba, who was given the same time for third place. The top nine men all finished inside 60 minutes.
The women&rsquo;s race was only decided in the final stages. A group of eight women passed through 5km in about 15:30, but just five of those were left in the lead pack by the time the 10km checkpoint was reached in 31:03.
Soon after, Gemechu, Daisy Cherotich and Joyce Chepkemoi broke away and ran together for another seven kilometres. Gemechu started to wind up the pace with about four kilometres to go and opened up a small gap on the Kenyan duo.
Gemechu held on to win in 1:06:06, taking 28 seconds off the course record. Cherotich (1:06:15) and Chepkemoi (1:06:19) finished close behind.
&ldquo;I tried (to go after the women-only world record), but after the 17th kilometre I felt a little tired,&rdquo; said Gemechu, who finished fourth in the 5000m at the 2019 World Championships and set a half marathon PB of 1:05:08 two months ago in Copenhagen. &ldquo;The course and the conditions were very good. I hope to come back next year to try the world record again.&rdquo;
<h2>Leading results</h2>
Women 1 Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) 1:06:06 2 Daisy Cherotich (KEN) 1:06:15 3 Joyce Chepkemoi (KEN) 1:06:19 4 Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 1:08:00 5 Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) 1:08:02 6 Ethlemahu Sintayehu Dessi (ETH) 1:08:16 7 Yitayish Mekonene Agidew (ETH) 1:08:18 8 Jess Piasecki (GBR) 1:09:44 9 Tsige Haileslase Abreha (ETH) 1:10:31 10 Debash Kelali Desta (ETH) 1:11:01
Men 1 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 57:31 2 Esa Huseyidin Mohamed (ETH) 59:39 3 Gerba Beyata Dibaba (ETH) 59:39 4 Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) 59:41 5 Ibrahim Hassan (DJI) 59:41 6 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 59:48 7 Antenayehu Dagnachaw (ETH) 59:48 8 Edmond Kipngetich (KEN) 59:49 9 Isaac Kipsang (KEN) 59:52 10 Solomon Berihu Weldeslassie (ETH) 1:00:00
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure

World half marathon champion clocks 57:31 in Portuguese capital

Kiplimo breaks world half marathon record in Lisbon

Organisers of the Millrose Games have confirmed that US 1500m champions Elle Purrier St Pierre and Cole Hocker will contest the WHOOP Wanamaker women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s miles at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in New York on 29 January.
Purrier St Pierre is the second-fastest woman in history for the indoor mile, having clocked a North American record of 4:16.85 at the 2020 Millrose Games. Earlier this year she set a North American indoor record of 9:10.28 for two miles, taking her to third on the world indoor all-time list, and then won at the US Trials in a meeting record of 3:58.05. She went on to place 10th in a high-quality Olympic final in Tokyo.
Like Purrier St Pierre, Hocker was also in flying form during the 2021 indoor season. He clocked an indoor mile PB of 3:50.55, moving him to eighth on the world indoor all-time list and making him the fastest teenager in history for the indoor discipline. One month later, he won the mile/3000m double on the same day at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He went on to win the outdoor NCAA 1500m title and the US 1500m title before placing sixth in the Olympic final in a PB of 3:31.40.
Organisers for World Athletics

US 1500m champions Elle Purrier St Pierre and Cole Hocker confirmed for World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in New York on 29 January

Focus on finalists: Sydney McLaughlin and Mondo Duplantis

Ayeko and Tesfu poised to strike in Alcobendas

Germar: 'It felt crazy to run a world record'

Korir and Ekiru dominate in Abu Dhabi

Focus on finalists: Faith Kipyegon and Ryan Crouser