World Athletics has announced the three finalists for the 2025 Men’s Rising Star Award, which will recognise this year’s best U20 athlete at the World Athletics Awards 2025.
The nominations reflect some of the standout performances that the sport has witnessed this year, at events including the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.
The winner of the 2025 Men’s Rising Star Award will be announced on 30 November.
The finalists are:
Phanuel Koech, Kenya
• world U20 1500m record
• London Diamond League winner
Biniam Mehary, Ethiopia
• world U20 3000m short track record
• world 5000m fifth place
Edmund Serem, Kenya
• World 3000m steeplechase bronze
• Diamond League final runner-up
The finalists for the Women’s Rising Star Award will be announced on Tuesday, 11 November.
As well as the Rising Star honours, the 2025 World Athletics Awards include the World Athlete of the Year awards, Coaching Achievement Award, Woman of the Year, Photograph of the Year, Member Federation Award and President’s Award.
Who are the finalists for the 2025 Athlete of the Year awards
Last week, the 12 athletes of the Year finalists were confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2025 continues.
The top two athletes in each category – track, field and out of stadium – have been chosen from the first round of voting, which comprised votes from the World Athletics Council, World Athletics Family and a public vote on social media. One of the two athletes will take the crown in their category.
A final round of voting – cast by fans of the sport – will now take place between 4-9 November to help select the overall women’s and men’s World Athlete of the Year.
Athlete of the Year awards finalists
- Women’s track athlete of the year
Femke Bol (NED) – world 400m hurdles champion
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – world 400m champion
- Men’s track athlete of the year
Noah Lyles (USA) – world 200m champion
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) – world 800m champion
- Women’s field athlete of the year
Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) – world long jump champion
Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) – world high jump champion
- Men’s field athlete of the year
Mondo Duplantis (SWE) – world pole vault champion
Mattia Furlani (ITA) – world long jump champion
- Women’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year
Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) – world marathon champion
Maria Perez (ESP) – world 20km and 35km race walk champion
- Men’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year
Sabastian Sawe (KEN) – London Marathon and Berlin Marathon champion
Alphonce Simbu (TAN) – world marathon champion
The Athletes of the Year in each category, as well as the overall winners, will be revealed at a ceremony in Monaco on Sunday, 30 November, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2025.
