Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women's 100m hurdles, did not secure a spot on the final shortlist for the Women's World Athlete of The Year Award.
World Athletics recently unveiled its list of 11 nominees, with only three Africans cutting: Tigist Assefa and Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia and Kenya's Faith Kipyegon.
Amusan had created history last year when she became the first Nigerian nominated for the Women's World Athlete of The Year but was ultimately bested by 400m hurdles record holder Sydney McLaughlin.
Just last month, Amusan retained her Diamond League title by winning the 100m women's hurdles in a remarkable 12.33 seconds, matching the three consecutive titles record held by Dawn Nelson-Harper. In the previous year, Amusan had a remarkable performance at the World Championships in Eugene, clinching the gold in the 100m hurdles and breaking the world record in the semi-finals with a time of 12.12 seconds. She became the first Nigerian world champion and world record holder in athletics. She also secured gold medals in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relays at the Commonwealth Games.
This year's nominees list is headlined by five world record breakers, with Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, the World 1500m and 5000m champion, setting three world records in 2023. Other notable nominees include Tigist Assefa from Ethiopia, who set a world marathon record and won the Berlin Marathon, and Dutchwoman Femke Bol, who established a world indoor record in the 400m flat.
Maria Perez, a record holder in the 35km race walk, and Gudaf Tsegay, who broke Kipyegon's 5000m world record while winning the event at the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, complete the list of world record holders among the nominees.
The nominations also feature Shericka Jackson, the Jamaican world 200m champion and double sprint Diamond League winner; Haruka Kitaguchi from Japan, the world and Diamond League javelin champion; and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who claimed the high jump title in Budapest and Eugene.
Rounding out the list are world and Diamond League triple champion Yulimar Rojas, Sha'Carri Richardson, the American 100m world champion, and Winfred Yavi from Bahrain, who secured the 3000m steeplechase title in Budapest and Eugene.
