The 2024 World Athlete of the Year finalists have been announced, sparking discussion due to the absence of American sprinter Noah Lyles, who had an exceptional season with an Olympic gold in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m. Lyles also set a personal best of 9.79 seconds in the 100m and solidified his reputation as the “world’s fastest man.” However, he faced challenges, including a bout with COVID-19 that affected his performance in the 200m finals in Paris, where he finished third. Despite his achievements, Lyles did not make the cut in the top two finalists for World Athletics’ prestigious award【14†source】【15†source】.
The finalists include Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who excelled in the 5000m, and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion. This exclusion has raised eyebrows, given Lyles’ double podium finish and previous recognition as the top male track athlete in 2023. World Athletics’ voting system considers votes from the World Athletics Council, athletics community, and public, which influences who ultimately advances as a finalist. The World Athlete of the Year winners will be announced in Monaco on December 1, 2024【14†source】.