(Sports news) This year has seen many athletes achieving new heights and breaking old records on their way to podium finishes. Elaine Thompson has produced one of the most impressive performances in the 100m and 200m as she came close to Florence Griffith Joyner’s record in both the events. While in the men’s side, Trayvon Bromell set the 6th fastest time in history in the 100m and the fastest of the year. Karsten Warholm tearing his jersey after winning the 400m hurdles has been one of the most iconic moments this year, Yulimar Rojas celebration has been one of the highlights from the record breakers this year. The winner from the finalists of World Athlete of the Year will be announced on 1st of December. The top four finalists in both categories are listed below.
Elaine Thompson, Women’s 100m: 10.54 secs, 200m: 21.53 secs
Thompson has been coming closer than ever to becoming the fastest woman alive in the 100m and 200m. She has the ability to do it and can break Flo Jo’s record which has been standing since 1988, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce has also been a close competitor this year but no one has come close like Thompson. She is now a double defending Olympic Champion in the 100m and 200m event after her run at the Tokyo Olympics.
Yulimar Rojas, Women’s Triple Jump: 15.67m
Yulimar holds the top two longest triple jumps in history and is the only woman to cross the 15.50m and 15.60m mark. No one is even close to her records this year as she has the top eight jumps, Patrícia Mamona has been the only other athlete to cross the 15m mark while Yulimar has done it eight times. Yulimar has been having the top jumps since 2019 and has not given up the top position yet, her gold medal in Tokyo was historic as she broke the 26 year old record of Inessa Kravets.
Karsten Warholm, Men’s 400m Hurdles: 45.94 secs
Four of the fastest 400m hurdles timing have come this year and Karsten has run two of them. He broke the 29 year old record of Kevin Young in July this year which was a month ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. He was the favourite to win the event and went on to become the first athlete to run the event under 46 seconds as the next two athletes ran under 47 seconds in one of the fastest races ever. Karsten could not believe it as he saw the timing flash on the big screen and went down on his knees even ripping apart his jersey in celebration.
Ryan Crouser, Men’s Shot Put: 23.37m
Crouser and Mondo Duplantis are the only athletes who are non runners in the finalists of the world athlete of the year in both the categories. Crouser has the top three longest throws in the history of the event and all of them have come this year. He has been undefeated since February 2020 and is currently on a 27 event winning streak.
