2009 World Athletics Gala Logo (© IAAF.org)
CarloFollowing the announcement of the five male athletes still in contention for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year award yesterday, the IAAF has the pleasure to announce the names of the five athletes who have been shortlisted for the female award.
With the inclusion of athletes representing five different countries and three different continents the list of female finalists is yet another confirmation that athletics truly is the most universal sport.
Fittingly disciplines of running, jumping and throwing are represented among the five shortlisted athletes to underscore the all-round success of athletics event this year.
Female Finalists are: (in alphabetical order)
Yelena Isinbayeva Russia
Sanya Richards USA
Valerie Vili New Zealand
Blanka Vlasic Croatia
Anita Wlodarczyk Poland
The winners of the 2009 World Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced live, on stage, during the 2009 World Athletics Gala, which will take place in Monaco, on 22 November 2009.
The IAAF Family votes opened on Monday 19 October, following the conclusion of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and closed on Sunday 8 November at midnight CET.
The IAAF Family vote consisted in a list of 1799 recipients including IAAF & IAF Council Members, IAAF Member Federations, IAAF Committee & Commission Members, IAAF Meeting Directors, IAAF Ambassadors, Leading Athletes, Athletes’ Representatives, IAAF Staff Members and selected members of the International Press.