World Athletic Awards: Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan named athletes of the year

Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were named male and female athlete of the year at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.

Tebogo, who was also named male track athlete of the year, became Botswana’s first Olympic champion in Paris when he won the 200m in an African record time of 19.46 seconds.

The 21-year-old also helped to set a new African record when taking silver in the men’s 4x400m relay.

“It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes,” said Tebogo. “It was a great year. This means a lot.”

Netherlands’ Hassan won bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Paris before claiming gold in the women’s marathon to become the first athlete in 72 years to win medals in all three events at the same Games.

The 31-year-old was also named female out of stadium athlete of the year, while Ethopia’s Tamirat Tola, who won men’s marathon gold in Paris, claimed the male award.

“I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan. “This year was crazy.”

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who smashed her own world record in winning 400m hurdles gold in Paris, took the female track athlete of the year prize.

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, who broke his own world record in winning pole vault gold, was named male field athlete of the year, with Ukrainian high jump gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh taking the female award.