McLaughlin-Levrone beats Tobi Amusan to 2022 World Athletics award

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the American hurdler and sprinter, has been named the women’s world athlete of the year ahead of Tobi Amusan.

The 23-year-old was announced the winner of the coveted prize in a statement on the World Athletics (WA) website on Monday evening.

She defeated Nigeria’s Amusan, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Kimberly Garcia of Peru, and Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela to win the award.

World Athlete of the Year 👑 @GoSydGo 🇺🇸 is your World Athlete of the Year 👏

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McLaughlin-Levrone broke the world 400m hurdles record on two occasions and won two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/g4u74AOFrh

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 5, 2022

In 2022, McLaughlin-Levrone set the world record twice in the 400m hurdles record, first to 51.41 at the US Championships and then to a sensational 50.68 at the World Championships.

She won her first individual senior world title, before following it up by anchoring the US team to another 4x400m victory.

Amusan also had a stellar 2022 where she tendered brilliant performances at the Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, and World Athletics Championships.

She became the first Nigerian world champion after she clocked a wind-aided 12.06 seconds — ineligible as a world record because of +2.5 meters per second strong wind.

The 25-year-old sprinter consolidated her feat with a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games before retaining her Diamond League title to put a brilliant wrap on her season.

Meanwhile, Mondo Duplantis of the US won the men’s world athlete of the year, while the rising stars awards were given to Adriana Vilagos of Serbia and America’s Erriyon Knighton.