World Athletics Gala 2002 (© IAF)
Monte CarloThe prestigious annual celebration of the Athletics year, the World Athletics Gala, takes place at Monte Carlo’s Sporting Club this Sunday 17th November, and as such we now conclude in alphabetical order, our review of the 20 star athletes (10 men & 10 women) who are in contention for the title of Athlete of the Year.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - MALE
Felix Sánchez (DOM) 400m Hurdles (25y)
The ebullient World champion who runs with his now trade mark flashing wrist band, has brought more than just star appeal to the tracks this season. Unbeaten at 400m hurdles, with nine wins out of nine including all the IAAF Golden Leagues - becoming with Ana Guevara the first ever Latin American athlete to take a share of the Jackpot - and the IAAF Grand Prix Final. His winning time in Zürich (47.35) moved him up to seventh on the world all-time list. Sanchez after completing a remarkable 400m flat / 400m hurdles double at the London Grand Prix, also reached the IAAF Grand Prix Final in the flat 400m, placing fifth, and was third in the overall award standings.
Roman Sebrle (CZE) Combined events (27y)
Except for his last Decathlon competition in Talence when he came second, a competition, which immediately followed on from the natural distractions caused by the birth of his first child, Sebrle was unbeaten at combined events throughout the year. He took European titles indoors (Vienna) and out (Munich), and Decathlon wins in Götzis and Ratingen. He had the three highest Decathlon scores of the year, 8800 twice and 8701, which put him way ahead of his nearest challenger (Tom Pappas, 8583) on the season’s world lists.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
Maria Mutola (MOZ) 800m (30y)
Won all the major championships she could contest at 800m, taking gold at the African championships, and retaining her Commonwealth and World Cup titles. Mutola took 10 wins out of 12 races outdoors (13/15 including heats) at 800m – losing only in Monaco (to Cuba’s Zulia Calatayud) and in Stockholm (to USA’s Nicole Teter) - uniquely winning for the 10th year in succession at the Zurich Golden League. While ‘only’ third quickest on the world lists at 800m (with the 4th, 5th, and 6th fastest times to her credit too), she set the world's best times at both 600m and 1000m.
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 5000m, 10,000m and Marathon (28y)
The popularity of the famous bobbing head, knee socked image of Britain’s favourite sporting daughter has transcended ‘just’ Athletics at the very least in the UK this year. First retaining her IAAF World Cross Country title, she then set a world Marathon best for a women-only race in London (2:18:56) on her debut at the distance. On the track without pacemakers, she later set a European record at 10,000m (30:01.09), and a world-leading mark at 5000m (14:31.42), when winning golds at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games respectively. Then last month, Radcliffe stunningly concluded her year by setting a mixed race Marathon world best when winning in Chicago (2:17:18), so becoming the first woman ever to run under 2:18 for the classic distance.
The twenty names were chosen by the International Nominations Panel of Athletics Experts, convened by the International Athletic Foundation, with the final choice of the Male and female Athletes of the Year being made by the Foundation Council, and the decision announced live on the stage at the Gala.
In our alphabetically conducted review of the contestants over the last three weeks we have also examined the merits of, the men - Jonathan Edwards (GBR, Triple Jump), Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR, 1500m/ 1 Mile), Robert Fazekas (HUN, Discus), Konstadinos Kenteris (GRE, 200m), Khalid Khannouchi (USA, Marathon), Wilson Kipketer (DEN, 800m), Robert Korzeniowski (POL, Walks), Tim Montgomery (USA,100m) and the women – Berhane Adere (ETH, 3000m/5000m), Süreyya Ayhan (TUR, 1500m), Kajsa Bergqvist (SWE, High Jump), Gail Devers (USA, 100m Hurdles), Svetlana Feofanova (RUS, Pole Vault), Debbie Ferguson (BAH 100m/200m), Ana Guevara (MEX, 400m), Marion Jones (USA,100m/200m).
IAAF
