Following some stunning African performances on the track at the Rio Olympics, seven African competitors, four men and three women, have been shortlisted for the male and female Athlete of the Year awards run by the IAAF, athletics’ governing body.
For the women:
- Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, who smashed the world record when she won the 10,000m
- Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000m, denying Almaz a double
- South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who destroyed the field in the 800m
For the men:
- Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who left the rest of the field trailing to win the marathon
- Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto, who won the 3,000m steeplechase in an Olympic-record time
- Kenya’s David Rudisha, who retained his Olympic 800m title
- South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, who broke Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old 400m world record
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Ten men and 10 women have been shortlisted and the winner will be announced on 2 December.