Tigst Aseffa becomes World Athlete of Year finalist

Addis Ababa, November 13, 2023 (FBC) – The women’s marathon reigning world record holder athlete Tigst Aseffa of Ethiopia has become a finalist for the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year 2023 awards, alongside Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, Femke Bol of the Netherlands, and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

Recall that Athlete Tigst was nominated for the award last month alongside her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey, the women’s 5,000m world record holder and the women’s 10,000m world champion, and other athletes in the world.

The voting process for the 2023 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2023 was opened in early October. Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closed at midnight on Saturday 28 October. In that regard, the five finalists were determined through a three-way voting process.

Tigst Assefa has had quite an exquisite years as she successfully defended her BMW Berlin Marathon title in style, smashing the world record with 2:11:53 at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in the German capital on Sunday 24 September 2023.

The 26 year old Tigst Assefa took more than two minutes off the women’s world record of 2:14:04, which had been set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei at the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

In what has been another memorable year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, one-day meeting circuits, label road races and other events around the world.

It is noted that the winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on 11 December 2023.