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American sprint king Noah Lyles has continued his criticism over how World Athletics handled the 2023 World Athlete of the Year Awards.
World 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles has continued his criticism of the criteria used by World Athletics to select winners of the 2023 World Athlete of the Year Awards.
The 10 finalists (five men and as many women) and observers were caught by surprise when World Athletics decided against selecting one winner in the men’s and women’s categories during Monday’s gala in Monaco and instead feted six finalists (three men and as many women) while categorising them into ‘track, field and out of stadia.’
![Noah Lyles slams ‘shocking’ World Athlete of the Year Awards format [VIDEO]](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/13122023/b70c396b-b8df-43eb-9021-8fe3daee8d67.jpg?operations=fit(:350))
15:29 - 13.12.2023
ATHLETICS Noah Lyles slams ‘shocking’ World Athlete of the Year Awards format [VIDEO]
World 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles has hit out at World Athletics over the manner in which they decided winners of the 2023 World Athlete of the Year Awards
That saw Lyles awarded Male Athlete of the Year (Track), last year’s winner Mondo Duplantis awarded Male Athlete of the Year (Field) while Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum was named Male Athlete of the Year (Out of Stadia).
However, Lyles feels the decision to split the awards without informing the finalists as well as the fans who voted prior to the gala made him feel like their achievements this year did not matter.
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23:29 - 11.12.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon makes history as Kenyans sweep World Athlete of the Year Awards
Kipyegon fended off stern competition to win the highly coveted award, while fellow Kenyans Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi have both won the Rising Star of the Year awards.
“I believe I found the right words for what happened at the AOY [Athlete of the Year] awards. When they decided to split the award without telling any of us, including the fans that voted. It made me feel that none of our achievements were good enough to be AOY,” Lyles wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I’m guessing that was not WA’s [World Athletics] goal but that is how it made me feel. I do believe that there should be more awards included in the event but not with exclusion of the AOY award.”
While he would like the awards expanded to other categories, Lyles believes the overall award should not be done away with and if so, then there should have been consultations with the athletes.
“I wish they would have waited until next year to change the format of the awards or not change it in the middle of the process,” added Lyles.
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12:00 - 13.12.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon: Five wins that propelled her to pantheon of athletics immortals
Faith Kipyegon's relentless pursuit of excellence led to five awe-inspiring victories, earning her the title of Female World Athlete of the Year.
“I also wish World Athletics would have had a conversation with the athletes so we could come up with a more structured plan.”
The women’s category had Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon winning the ‘track’ award while Yulimar Rojas and Tigist Assefa were handed women’s field and out-of-stadia awards respectively.
![Kelvin Kiptum delivers acceptance speech in Swahili after clinching World Athlete of the Year award [VIDEO]](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/12122023/99cf71dc-c674-4251-a032-afb585e0c8ae.jpg?operations=fit(:350))
17:02 - 12.12.2023
ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum delivers acceptance speech in Swahili after clinching World Athlete of the Year award [VIDEO]
Kiptum achieved his world record in Chicago back in October which boosted his chances of winning the maiden World Athlete of the Year Outside Stadia award.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, the world 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist, and compatriot Emmanuel Wanyonyi, world 800m silver medallist, were feted with the Rising Star of the Year awards.
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