Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone named World Athletics' Athletes of the Year

BEIJING, Dec - Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and 400m hurdles world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named the World Athletes of the Year, the World Athletics announced on Tuesday.

23-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone improved her own world 400m hurdles record to 50.68 seconds at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon and later helped the United States win the women's 4x400m relay.

"All of my goals were accomplished this year," said McLaughlin-Levrone after her victory at Oregon 2022. "We were able to accomplish everything we set out to do. It couldn't have been any better, and I was so grateful that I was able to produce that performance in front of a home crowd."

Duplantis continued his dominance in the men's pole vault in 2022, claiming 18 victories in his 19 competitions. The Swedish pole vaulter set three world records in the season and vaulted six meters or higher 23 times. At Oregon 2022, Duplantis raised the world record to 6.21m.

"I wanted to win the world indoors, the world outdoors, the Europeans, the Diamond League final, and I wanted to break the world record a few times," he said.

Serbian javelin thrower Adriana Vilagos and US sprinter Erriyon Knighton won the Rising Stars awards.