Masai Russell, Alison Dos Santos and Audrey Werro are among the six finalists for World Athletics’ Athlete of the Year awards following their record-breaking exploits in the Wanda Diamond League in 2026.
Diamond League stars once again dominate the shortlists for the prestigious awards, which will be handed out to one male and one female athlete at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 29.
Russell, Dos Santos and Werro all enjoyed unforgettable seasons in 2026, with their best performances coming at Wanda Diamond League meetings.
Hurdlers Russell and Dos Santos both broke world records within 40 minutes of each other at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich on August 27.
Brazil’s Dos Santos clocked 45.80 in the men’s 400m hurdles, beating previous world record holder Karsten Warholm in the process.
Russell stormed to 12.09 in the women’s 100m hurdles, becoming the first woman to go below 12.10.
The records crowned an astonishing Diamond League season from both athletes, with both going unbeaten en route to the series title and Russell setting a new meeting record in all seven of her Diamond League races.
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro also made history as she closed in on the world record in the women’s 800m.
The Swiss broke the Diamond League record in Stockholm, Paris and Zurich, ending the season as the third-fastest woman in history with a new PB of 1:53.70.
Other finalists for the Athlete of the Year awards include Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and US sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, both of whom enjoyed Diamond League success in 2026.
Duplantis is a five-time Diamond League champion and broke meeting records at five Diamond League meetings in 2026, a year in which he also increased his world record to 6.31m.
Women’s 100m world champion Jefferson-Wooden stormed to victories in Stockholm, Eugene and Silesia.
