Olympic Champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Julien Alfred to battle for track and field's biggest honor

Star athletes Julien Alfred and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalists in 100m and 400m hurdles, respectively, were recently announced as finalists for the World Athletics' Female Track Athlete of the Year award. Arguably the biggest honor in the sport, both nominees have had a groundbreaking 2024 season.

Alfred, hailing from Saint Lucia, earned her country’s first-ever Olympic medal in the summer when she shocked the entire arena by beating crowd favorite Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m, finishing with a time of 10.72 seconds. She also came second in the 200m, behind American Gabrielle Thomas.

McLaughlin-Levrone, however, entered the Olympiad as the defending champion and bookies' pick in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay. The American hurdler did not disappoint, defending both crowns and breaking her own 400m hurdles world record for the sixth time in the process.

As per World Athletics, the nomination is based on the athletes' performance in the 2024 Summer Olympics, World Athletics Indoor Championships, one-day meeting circuits, and other events worldwide.

The winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards Ceremony, which will take place on December 1 in Monaco. Fans can vote for their athlete of choice on the World Athletics website, with a special round of fan voting set to take place from November 4-10 to decide the overall World Athlete of the Year as well.

Both athletes had a season for the record books in their own ways. Irrespective of who wins, the world will undoubtedly remember both their trailblazing seasons for years to come.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Beatrice Chebet misses out on finalist nomination for Female Athlete of the Year

Beatrice Chebet at the Wanda Diamond League 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland | Getty Images

Fans were outraged following Beatrice Chebet's omission from the 2024 Female Athlete of the Year award finalists. The Kenyan long-distance runner had an impressive 2024, winning gold in both the 5000m and 10000m events in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. She also retained her World Cross-Country title, broke the 10000m world record, and won the Diamond League title.

The reaction followed World Athletics' announcement that the nomination process would be based, among other factors, on public votes in terms of X (formerly Twitter) reposts, where Chebet had more than her competitors who were nominated for the finals.

One fan reacted on X, saying the Kenyan must have taken up gymnastics in a sarcastic tone.

“Beatrice Chebet has obviously taken up gymnastics or something this season because there’s no way she isn’t a finalist based on her season. World Cross Country Champion, 10,000m WR (28:54.14), 5000m Olympic Champion, 10,000m Olympic Champion and 5000m Diamond League Champion. Absolutely outrageous,” (via X)