2024 IAU Athlete of the Year Award Winners Announcement

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious 2024 IAU Athlete of the Year Award. Floriane Hot from France and Jumpei Yamaguchi from Japan are the Winners. This marks a significant achievement for both athletes, as they have received this award for the first time in their careers. Both are the winners of 2024 IAU 100km World Championship in Bengaluru, India.

The competition was fierce this year, with a total of 11 male and 12 female athletes nominated for the award. The voting results indicate a high level of engagement, with 82% of nominated men (9 out of 11) receiving at least one vote, and 75% of nominated women (9 out of 12) also garnering votes. The nominees for the 2024 IAU Athlete of the Year Award showcased incredible talent and dedication, with many athletes achieving remarkable feats in ultrarunning.

Voting Results

The voting results reflect the outstanding performances of the nominees, with Jumpei Yamaguchi leading the men's category with 43.0% of the votes, followed by Matthieu Bonne with 27.8%. In the women's category, Floriane Hot achieved 36.3%, securing a strong lead over Patrycja Bereznowska, who received 23.3%. The victory margin was nearly identical for both men and women.

Top 5 Men's Voting Results:

Top 5 Women's Voting Results:

I would like to congratulate Floriane and Jumpei on being voted as the IAU Athlete of the Year (ATY) 2024. Both athletes have had an amazing year and a very succesful 100km World Championships. Floriane and Jumpei have been oustanding ambassadors of the sprort and have truly portrayed the essence of being top of the field ultrarunners. Congratulations to both of them and also to all the other nominees on the short list for the IAU ATY award.

Nadeem Khan, IAU President 

Congratulations to all nominees and winners for their outstanding contributions to ultrarunning!

Floriane Hot

Floriane Hot has firmly established herself as a leading figure in ultrarunning, particularly in the 100 km distance, where she is a double IAU 100 km Champion, having won the title in both 2022 and 2024. Her remarkable achievements in both national and international competitions highlight her dedication and skill in the sport. With a personal best of 7:04:03 in the 100 km, she has secured her spot among the top athletes in her category, earning her recognition and respect in the ultrarunning community. Floriane continues to represent France with pride and determination, aiming for even greater successes in the future.

Personal Bests (PB)

• 50 km: 3:32:58 (Ranked 41st internationally, 2nd nationally in 2022)
• 50 mi: 5:53:05 (Ranked 3rd internationally, 2nd nationally in 2022)
• 100 km: 7:04:03 (Ranked 3rd internationally, 1st nationally in 2024)

Jumpei Yamaguchi 

Jumpei Yamaguchi has made a significant mark in the world of ultrarunning, particularly in the 100 km distance. He is the 2024 IAU 100 km World Champion, having clinched the title with an impressive performance in Bengaluru, India. His journey in the IAU Championships began with a remarkable silver medal finish at the 2022 IAU 100 km World Championship in Berlin, where he showcased his talent and determination.

His consistent performances in IAU events have established him as one of the top competitors in the ultrarunning community. With a personal best of 6:06:07 in the 100 km (second athlete all time and only 32 seconds behind WR). Jumpei continues to represent Japan with pride, aiming for further success in future competitions.

Personal Bests (PB)

• 50 km: 2:51:34 (Ranked 19th internationally, 1st nationally in 2024)
• 50 mi: 5:11:02 (Ranked 7th internationally, 2nd nationally in 2024)
• 100 km: 6:06:07 (Ranked 1st internationally, 1st nationally in 2024)

Jacek Bedkowski

IAU Director of Communication