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Olympic champions Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Karsten Warholm of Norway have been named World Athletics World Athletes of the Year on Wednesday.
“Thompson-Herah produced one of the finest sprint seasons in history this year, retaining her Olympic 100m and 200m titles in Tokyo and adding a third gold medal in the 4x100m relay,” read the World Athletics release.
Cap 🧢 off for the athlete of the year #History#Historybooks#Hiswill#Hisfaith#Jamrock#WR pic.twitter.com/hQbZNYUrTb
— Elaine Thompson-Herah (@FastElaine) December 1, 2021
The 29-year-old Thompson-Herah, is the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic sprint doubles when she clinched her 100m and 200m titles in Tokyo in the times of 10.54 and 21.53 respectively. She is a five-time Olympic gold medallist and earned a silver as well as World Athletics Championships gold and silver. The Jamiacan owns four national records in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m, and 4 x 200m relays and isa 26-time Diamond League champion.
The press release also stated, “Warholm uncorked one of the most remarkable performances in athletics history when he stormed to gold in the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
YEEEEES! So proud! Thanks @WorldAthletics 🤩 https://t.co/bEU1cYDkNm
— Karsten Warholm (@kwarholm) December 1, 2021
Having already broken the world record with 46.70 during the Diamond League meet in Oslo prior to the Games, the 25-year-old captured gold in the world record time of 45.94. Warholm also owns the national record in the 400m. Tokyo was his first Olympic gold medal. He is a 15-time Diamond League champion.
