2025 IAU Athletes of the Year – Nomination Process Launched

2025 marked another exceptional year for the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), highlighted by three major global championships. As we continue to build on our legacy, we are pleased to open the 2025 IAU Athletes of the Year Award process, celebrating the standout performances of the past season.

Throughout 2025, the IAU delivered three major championships:

• 2025 IAU 24H World Championship in Albi, France
• World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain
• 2025 IAU 100 km Asia and Oceania Championship in Bangkok, Thailand

A total of 23 athletes—12 women and 11 men—have earned automatic nominations based on podium finishes and ratified IAU World Records and World Best Performances. We now open a two‑week nomination window to fill the remaining seven (7) places on the final nomination list.

Automatic Nominations

Women (Alphabetical Order)

• Aitken, Mel (NZL) – 1st place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (9:04:14)
• Bereznowska, Patrycja (POL) – 48H IAU WR (436.371 km), 24H IAU European Record (263.178 km)
• Budha, Sunmaya (NPL) – 2nd place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (10:23:03)
• Conti, Fabiola (ITA) – 3rd place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (10:35:51)
• Dolma, Tenzin (IND) – 2nd place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (9:18:49)
• Nakata, Miho (JPN) – 3rd place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (271.987 km)
• Olsen, Courtney (USA) – 50 Mile IAU WR (5:31:57)
• Ranson, Holly (AUS) – 2nd place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (274.172 km)
• Rex, Stine (DEN) – 6 Day WBP (928.577 km)
• Schide, Katie (USA) – 1st place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (9:57:59)
• Webster, Sarah (GBR) – 1st place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (278.622 km; WR pending)
• Zanwar, Aarti Brijmohan (IND) – 3rd place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (10:15:27)

Men (Alphabetical Order)

• Bonne, Matthieu (BEL) – 48H IAU WR (485.099 km)
• Coiffet, Louison (FRA) – joint 2nd place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (8:46:05)
• Dawson, Clay (AUS) – 2nd place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (7:15:22)
• Devanda, Amar Singh (IND) – 1st place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (6:59:37)
• Gore, Phil (AUS) – 24H IAU Oceania Record (270.826 km)
• Jonkka, Matti (FIN) – 3rd place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (283.699 km)
• Norum, Jo Inge (NOR) – 2nd place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (285.513 km)
• Ranjan, Saurav Kumar (IND) – 3rd place, 2025 IAU 100 km Asia & Oceania (7:23:02)
• Roubiol, Benjamin (FRA) – joint 2nd place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (8:46:05)
• Tkachuk, Andrii (UKR) – 1st place, 2025 IAU 24H Worlds (294.346 km)
• Walmsley, Jim (USA) – 1st place, 2025 Long Trail WMTRC (8:35:11)

Nomination Process

A maximum of 30 athletes (combined men and women) will appear on the final nomination list. This number will only increase under exceptional circumstances and with approval from the IAU Executive Council.

For 2025, the three major championships, three new IAU World Records, two IAU Continental Records and one IAU World Best Performance have produced 23 automatic nominations, leaving seven (7) open positions.

These remaining places are open to community recommendations. Only athletes who have competed in IAU Labelled Events are eligible.

Submit nominations by 29th January 2026 to:

• John.ORegan@iau-ultramarathon.org 
• Jacek.Bedkowski@iau-ultramarathon.org 

The seven athletes receiving the most nominations will complete the final list, which will be published no later than 30th January 2025.

Voting Process

Voting is restricted to:

• IAU Executive Council
• Two members of the Athletes Commission
• IAU Member Federations

Each holds one (1) vote.

Voting runs from 31st January to 14 February 2026.

Each voter must select their top three (3) male and top three (3) female athletes:

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

Submit votes to:

• John O’Regan — John.ORegan@iau-ultramarathon.org 
• Jacek Bedkowski — Jacek.Bedkowski@iau-ultramarathon.org 

The male and female athletes with the highest total points will be named 2025 IAU Athletes of the Year.

Dates for the process: