Tokyo Olympics javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra was nominated for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 award by the World Athletics on October 12. The other 10 athletes shortlisted for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 award include sprinter Noah Lyles (USA), the 100m and 200m world champion and the world leader in 200m; Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco), the 3000m steeplechase champion; Mondo Duplantis (Sweden), the reigning world champion in the men’s pole vault; race walker Alvaro Martin (Spain), world champion in the 20km and 35km events.
Chopra became the first Indian to win the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August. The 25-year-old later finished second in the Diamond League 2023 before defending his title at the Asian Games in Hangzhou this month.
The athletes shortlisted for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 award were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics. A three-way voting process will determine the final five finalists to be announced on November 13 or 14.
The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email. Meanwhile, fans will be able to vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms. The voting will close on October 28.
The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result. The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on December 11.
