Posted: August 26, 2005

Athletics: Help To Elect The Athletes And Performances Of The Year

Monte Carlo - The IAAF is delighted to invite YOU, to participate in the vote for the World Athlete of the Year – traditionally elected during the annual World Athletics Gala.

By going to the IAAF home page IAAF.org from Monday 5 September until Thursday 8 September!

World Performances of the Year

2005 has already been an excellent year for dramatic action, and the season is not over yet! Nevertheless, we have started to compile a list of top results from which we will invite you to select your Performance of the Year (Men and Women), and if we have more exceptional performances in the coming weeks, we will update the list before the vote opens on Monday 5 September

Choosing a Performance of the Year is not just about the result, but the context in which it was achieved. Was the athlete competing in difficult circumstances? Or coming back from major injury? Was he or she up against more favoured opponents or overcome terrible weather conditions? Let us know what you think!

This vote will also open on Monday 5 September at 07:00 GMT and close at 07:00 GMT on Thursday 8 September. When the vote has closed, a shortlist of 5 will then be presented to the International Athletic Foundation Jury who will make the final choice on Saturday 10 September.*

To take part in the vote – go to IAAF.org.

*The Jury has the right to select any other exceptional results achieved at the World Athletics Final as Performance of the Year.

Performances Of The Year – As At 25 August 2005

Men:

Virgilijus Alekna LTU
Coming from behind in the Discus Throw final with the very last throw of the competition to win with 70.17m – the first ever 70 plus metre throw in a global championships

Kenenisa Bekele ETH
Achieving his fourth World Cross country double in St Etienne, only months after tragically losing his fiancée

Rens Blom NED
Overcoming the difficult weather conditions, and more favoured rivals, to set a seasonal best of 5.80m and win the Pole Vault gold medal at the World Champs

Ladji Doucouré FRA
Overcoming a field that may be considered the strongest ever, to win the World title in Helsinki

Justin Gatlin USA
Winning the 200m in Helsinki for the first world level sprint double since 1999

Jaouad Gharib MAR
Becoming the first man since Abel Anton in 1999 to successfully defend a Marathon World title with his superb run in Helsinki.

Bershawn Jackson USA
Running an amazing 47.30 to win 400m H World title despite the terrible weather

Adam Nelson USA
Winning World Championship gold after five major championships silver medals

Asafa Powell JAM
Breaking the 100m World Record with 9.77 in the Athens OIympic Stadium

Rashid Ramzi BRN
For becoming the first man since 1964 to achieve an 800m/1500m double at a world level Championships

Ivan Tikhon BLR
For missing the Hammer Throw World Record by just 1 centimetre with 86.73m on 3 July in Brest, Belarus, and following up with the World title

Jeremy Wariner USA
Winning his first World title at 400m with 43.93 – to become only the 6th man in history to duck under 44 seconds for the event

Women:

Kajsa Bergqvist SWE
Coming back from a career threatening injury to dominate the season and win her first outdoor World title with 2.02m.

Zulia Calatayud (CUB)
For winning the 800m World Title and dominating the important races this season, after two years fighting injuries

Turenish Dibaba ETH
Winning the 5000/10,000 double in Helsinki after she already doubled at the World cross earlier this year

Allyson Felix USA
Coolly taking the World 200m title at 19 years old, after dominating the event all season

Yelena Isinbayeva RUS
Breaking through the 5.00m barrier for the second time this season to win the World Pole Vault title in Helsinki

Dorcus Inzikuri (UGA)
For becoming the first Ugandan ever to win a World Title, by winning the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase, which was also held for the first time ever at a World level Championships

Olimpiada Ivanova RUS
Sparking the World Championships to life on the first day by claiming the 20km Walk title in a new World Record

Osleidys Menendez CUB
Smashing the Javelin World Record with 71.70m to win the gold medal in Helsinki

Paula Radcliffe GBR
Banishing the ghosts of her Olympic misfortune by winning the Marathon World title in Helsinki