2021 IAU Athlete of the Year – nominations

Last year we took a different approach with the Athlete of the Year Award for 2020 since our entire calendar was wiped out due to the pandemic. We wanted to ensure that we continued with these awards regardless of the circumstances and challenges last years. This year we are back as there were some outstanding performances during 2021 calendar year. This is why we are continuing with our legacy and present you with the list of automatic nomination and at the same time present you next steps for the 2021 IAU Athlete of Year.

List of automatic nomination

Women (alphabetic order):

  • Desiree Linden (USA) - 50 km IAU World Record (ratified in December 2021) 2:59:54
  • Irvette Van Zyl (RSA) - 50 km World Best Performance* (ratified in November 2021) 3:04:24

Men (alphabetic order):

  • Ketema Bekele Negasa (RSA) - 50 km World Best Performance (ratified in November 2021) 2:42:07
  • Aleksandr Sorokin (LTH) – 24H IAU World Record 309,399 km** and 12H IAU World Record 170,309 km**

* the last 50 km WBP were published in November 2021

** IAU World Record under ratification process

 

Nomination process:

A total of at most 12 (twelve) athletes (men and women athletes combined) will make the final nomination list (the number will only be increased under excruciating circumstances, on discussion of the IAU Executive Council).

As there were no IAU Major Championships in 2021 there are no athletes nomination from the Championships however there are nomination based on IAU World Record/World Best Performances in 2021.

The remaining eight (8) spots on the nomination list will be open for recommendations from the general audience. Only runners running IAU Labeled events will be taken into consideration.

Please send your nominations via email for available spots no later than February 25th 2022 to:

Jacek.Bedkowski@iau-ultramarathon.org

Hilmy.Aboud.Said@iau-ultramarathon.org

The nominees receiving the most nominations will fill the remaining eight spots. Once the nominees have been compiled, the final list will be published no later than February 27th so the Athletes can be moved on to, the voting stage of this process.

 

Voting process:

The voting will only be open to the IAU Executive Council and the Member Federations with each holding one (1) applicable vote. The process will start on February 28th 2022 and will end on March 10th 2022.

Each eligible voting individual has to vote for their top three (3) choices for men and for women from the final list of nominated athletes.

  • 1st Choice: 5 points
  • 2nd Choice: 3 points
  • 3rd Choice: 1 point

After the final list of all nominees will be published and the voting process starts (28th February 2022) each IAU Executive Council Member and Member Federation can send their votes to:

Jacek Bedkowski at Jacek.Bedkowski@iau-ultramarathon.org

Hilmy Aboud Said at Hilmy.Aboud.Said@iau-ultramarathon.org

 

The votes will be compiled at the end and the runner (male and female) with the most votes will win the individual Athletes of the Year titles.

 

Dates for the voting and selection process:

February 28th

A list of nominated athletes, who made the short list, will be forwarded to the IAU Executive Council and IAU Member Federations.

February 28th – March 10th

Voting process open for the Executive Council and Member Federations.

March 12th

IAU Executive Council will confirm the Athlete of the Year 2021

 

Jacek Bedkowski

IAU Director of Communication

2021 IAU Athlete of the Year – nominations

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