Home » SA’s Caster and Wayde Nominated for World Athletes of the Year Award

SA’s Caster and Wayde Nominated for World Athletes of the Year Award

South Africa’s two 2016 Olympic gold medallists – Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya – have been nominated for the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Athletes of the Year Award! The public has until 1 November to cast our votes!!! Wayde won the 400 metres in Rio (breaking a world record!) and his […]

By SAPeople Contributor
20-10-16 17:51
in Fab South African Stuff

South Africa’s two 2016 Olympic gold medallists – Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya – have been nominated for the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Athletes of the Year Award! The public has until 1 November to cast our votes!!!

Olympic athletics - Day eight - Rio - Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrating her gold medal in the Women’s 800m race. Olympic Athletics August 20, 2016 at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by ©Christiaan Kotze/SASPA

Wayde won the 400 metres in Rio (breaking a world record!) and his golden moment was followed by Caster Semenya who won the 800m later in the Olympic Games.

This week marked the opening of the voting process for the 2016 World Athletes of the Year, ahead of the IAAF Awards Night in Monaco on 2 December.

A list of 10 men and 10 women nominees were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The IAAF Council and the IAAF ‘Family’ will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the IAAF’s social media platforms.

Olympic athletics - Day three - Rio - Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 15: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa is crowned Olympic champion as he gets his gold medal for winning the 400m for men’s race. Olympic athletics day four Finals on August 15, 2016 at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by ©Christiaan Kotze/SASPA

The IAAF Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result.

Voting closes on 1 November. At the conclusion of the voting process, three men and three women finalists will be announced by the IAAF.

The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Awards Night.

The public vote is now OPEN. Voting closes on 1 November at 5pm GMT.

TO VOTE, PLEASE GO TO:

Men – Vote for Wayde
Women – Vote for Semenya

https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/788647473015324672

The full list of nominees for 2016 World Athlete of the Year is:

Men:

Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)
Usain Bolt (JAM)
Thiago Braz da Silva (BRA)
Ashton Eaton (USA)
Mo Farah (GBR)
Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN)
Omar McLeod (JAM)
David Rudisha (KEN)
Christian Taylor (USA)

Women
Caster Semenya (RSA)
Almaz Ayana (ETH)
Ruth Beitia (ESP)
Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)
Kendra Harrison (USA)
Caterine Ibarguen (COL)
Ruth Jebet (BRN)
Sandra Perkovic (CRO)
Elaine Thompson (JAM)
Anita Wlodarczyk (POL)