Amid all the doping, politics and money issues, let’s talk about sports for once, as the IAAF announced its Athletes of the Year nominees:
Men:
∙ Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) ~ 1,500 m Diamond League Champ & world leader
∙ Christian Coleman (USA) ~ 100 m Diamond League Champ & world leader
∙ Mondo Duplantis (SWE) ~ Pole Vault European Champ & world leader
∙ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) ~ Won London & Berlin marathons & new world record
∙ Emmanuel Korir (KEN) ~ 800 m Diamond League Champ & world leader
∙ Noah Lyles (USA) ~ 200 m Diamond League Champ & world leader
∙ Luvo Manyonga (RSA) ~ Long Jump Diamond League Champion
∙ Kevin Mayer (FRA) ~ Decathlon world-record setter
∙ Abderrahman Samba (QAT) ~ 400 m Diamond League Champ & world leader
∙ Tom Walsh (NZL) ~ Shot Put Diamond League Champ & world leader
Women:
∙ Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) ~ 100 m/200 m European Champ & world leader
∙ Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) ~ Steeplechase world-record setter
∙ Sifan Hassan (NED) ~ 5,000 m European Champion; mile world leader
∙ Caterine Ibarguen (COL) ~ Long Jump/Triple Jump Continental Cup wins
∙ Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) ~ High Jump World European Champ & world leader
∙ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) ~ Unbeaten at 200/400 m & 400 m world leader
∙ Sandra Perkovic (CRO) ~ Discus European Champion & world leader
∙ Caster Semenya (RSA) ~ 800 m Commonwealth-African-Diamond League Champ
∙ Nafi Thiam (BEL) ~ Heptathlon European Champion & world leader
∙ Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) ~ Hammer European Champion & world leader
Three groups will vote: The IAAF Council and the IAAF Family by e-mail, and fans can vote online via the IAAF’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites through 12 November. A ‘like’ on Facebook and Instagram or a retweet on Twitter counts as a vote. The IAAF Council’s vote will count for 50%; the IAAF Family’s vote and the public vote count for 25%.
The award winners will be announced on 4 December.