Four Ethiopian athletes have been nominated for the prestigious “Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year” award by World Athletics. Among them are Tamirat Tola, Yomif Kejelcha, Sutume Asefa Kebede, and Tigist Ketema, all of whom have achieved remarkable feats in 2024.
Tamirat Tola earned his place on the nominee list by winning Olympic gold in the marathon, setting an Olympic record, and delivering an impressive performance despite being a late addition to Ethiopia’s team. Yomif Kejelcha recently shattered the world half marathon record in Valencia with a time of 57:30, a standout achievement in road running. Sutume Kebede clocked the second-fastest women’s marathon time of the year, winning the Tokyo Marathon in 2:15:55, and Tigist Ketema emerged victorious at the Berlin and Dubai Marathons, adding to Ethiopia’s legacy in long-distance running.
The voting process for the award is a blend of public voting (25%), World Athletics Family voting (25%), and a decisive 50% from the World Athletics Council. Fans can show support for their favorite athletes by engaging on social media through Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Voting closes on November 3, and the top two finalists in each category will proceed to the final vote, which takes place from November 4. The winners will be announced in December during the World Athletics Awards【13†source】【14†source】【15†source】.