Monaco, November 13, 2023: Olympic, World and Asian Games javelin champion Neeraj Chopra of India was picked as one of five finalists by World Athletics for Men’s World Athlete of the Year 2023.
Chopra is the only Asian athlete shortlisted by World Athletics from both the men’s and women’s nomination lists. Two other Asians, both women, were also among the initial nominees - Japanese javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi and Bahraini middle-distance runner Winfred Yavi.
The other athletes to be shortlisted for the men’s title are:
· Ryan Crouser, USA (world champion and world record holder in shot put)
· Mondo Duplantis, Sweden (world champion and Diamond League champion with world record in pole vault)
· Kelvin Kiptum, Kenya (London and Chicago marathon winner and marathon world record breaker)
· Noah Lyles, USA (world 100m and 200m champion)
A three-way voting process determined the finalists. The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans logged their decisions online via the World Athletics social media platforms where a record two million votes were registered.
Voting closed on October 28.
The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on December 11, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.