Faith Kipyegon, along with the American pair Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, were acknowledged by the International Association of Sports Journalists (AIPS) among the top sports personalities worldwide.
In the AIPS Sportsperson of the Year poll, Kipyegon attained the second position, Jackson secured the 12th spot, while Richardson and Lyles ranked 22nd and 13th, respectively. This recognition highlights the remarkable achievements of these athletes in tandem with their fellow competitors.
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During the previous season, Kipyegon broke three world records in the 1500m, 5000m, and one-mile categories at the Diamond League Meetings. The journey of her record-breaking feats commenced in Florence, Italy, where she established a new world record in the 1500m.
Within a week, the Kenyan athlete went on to set the 5000m world record in Paris, France, and subsequently shattered the one-mile world record in Monaco.
Following these achievements, Kipyegon secured double gold at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and added another victory in the Diamond League Meeting final. Simultaneously, Lyles earned his position by securing three gold medals in Budapest—triumphing in the 100m and 200m events and contributing to his team’s victory in the 4x100m relay.
Richardson, his compatriot, claimed the 100m gold with a world-leading time of 10.65, secured a bronze in the 200m, and earned gold in the 4x100m relay.
Representing Jamaica, Jackson defended her 200m title and garnered silver in the 100m and 4x100m relay.
In the rankings, Kipyegon led the field with 9.03%, surpassing other track and field athletes such as Tigst Assefa (5th), Femke Bol (7th), Yulimar Rojas (8th), Sifan Hassan (24th), and Maria Perez (31st).
— Faith Kipyegon, EGH🇰🇪 (@Kipyegon_Faith) January 5, 2024
In the men’s category, Armand Duplantis achieved a 9.19% rating, surpassing Soufiane El Bakkali (8th), Eliud Kipchoge (11th), Kelvin Kiptum (14th), Miltiadis Tentoglou (21st), Gianmarco Tamberi (24th), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (26th), and Ryan Crouser (28th).
Meanwhile, AIPS recognized US gymnast Simone Biles and Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic as the Athletes of the Year for 2023.
The rankings for the AIPS Best Male Athlete of 2023 are outlined below:
- Novak Djokovic (tennis, Serbia): 616 votes (16.90%).
- Armand Duplantis (athletics, Sweden): 335 votes (9.19%).
- Leo Messi (football, Argentina): 277 votes (7.60%).
- Erling Haaland (football, Norway): 229 votes (6.28%).
- Max Verstappen (motor, Netherlands): 212 votes (5.82%).
- Carlos Alcaraz (tennis, Spain): 184 votes (5.05%).
- Hubert Kos (swimming, Hungary): 129 votes (3.54%).
- Soufiane El Bakkali (athletics, Morocco): 119 votes (3.26%).
- Nikola Jokic (basketball, Serbia): 115 votes (3.16%).
- Kylian Mbappé (football, France): 96 votes (2.63%).
The results for the AIPS Best Female Athlete of 2023 are outlined as follows:
- Simone Biles (gymnastics, United States): 353 votes (9.68%).
- Faith Kipyegon (athletics, Kenya): 329 votes (9.03%).
- Aitana Bonmati (football, Spain): 297 votes (8.15%).
- Mikaela Shiffrin (skiing, United States): 256 votes (7.02%).
- Tigst Assefa (athletics, Ethiopia): 237 votes (6.50%).
- Iga Swiatek (tennis, Poland): 203 votes (5.57%).
- Femke Bol (athletics, Netherlands): 190 votes (5.21%).
- Yulimar Rojas (athletics, Venezuela): 176 votes (4.83%).
- Alexia Putellas (football, Spain): 158 votes (4.33%).
- Katie Ledecky (swimming, United States): 135 votes (3.70%).
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