Emmanuel Wanyonyi Tops Noah Lyles for Athlete of the Year as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Sweeps Two Awards

Kenya enjoyed one of its most memorable evenings at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco as Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Edmund Serem delivered major victories that affirmed the nation’s dominance in middle-distance and youth development. 

Wanyonyi’s triumph over American sprint superstar Noah Lyles to win Male Track Athlete of the Year stood out as the headline moment, while Serem’s recognition as Male Rising Star underscored Kenya’s bright future.

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At just 20, world and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi beat  Noah Lyles to the award, who is the  world 200m champion and one of the sport’s biggest global icons. 

Wanyonyi’s command of the two-lap event against rivales like Djamel Sedjati and Marco Arop  throughout the season made him the clear favourite and ultimately the deserving winner. His award marks a rare moment where a Kenyan athlete edges out a sprinting megastar in a major global category, reaffirming Kenya’s continued relevance beyond long-distance races.

Kenya’s celebrations doubled as 17-year-old  Edmund Serem secured the Male Rising Star of the Year award after clinching bronze in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

His recognition is promising for Kenya, who hope to become dominant in that event once again.

While Kenya shone brightly, the night also belonged to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who walked away with two of the most prestigious honours: Female Track Athlete of the Year and Female World Athlete of the Year. 

Her exceptional return to the 400m flat — culminating in a world title — cemented her status as one of athletics’ most versatile and dominant forces.

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis matched McLaughlin-Levrone’s double success by winning both Male Field Athlete of the Year and Male World Athlete of the Year. The pole vault phenomenon continued to push the limits of his event with another world record-breaking season, maintaining his place at the summit of global athletics.

In the women’s field category, Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers earned the Female Field Athlete of the Year after a world championship–winning campaign in the high jump. Her victory capped a season where she showcased remarkable consistency and technical mastery.

Spain’s María Pérez took the Female Out-of-Stadium Athlete of the Year award, thanks to her world titles in both the 20km and 35km race walks. Her achievements marked one of the most dominant seasons ever recorded in race walking.