Thompson-Herah beaten by triple jumper for female athlete of the year
Jamaican
Elaine Thompson-Herah failed in her bid to be named the top female athlete of
the world by World Athletics yesterday.
She was
beaten by Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, the 25-year-old who leapt to
a world record in the indoor version of the event.
Rojas
competed sparingly in a year that was characterized by far fewer events due to
the coronavirus pandemic, but made each outing count. She broke the 16-year-old
world indoor record in the triple jump with a 15.43 distance in February. She was
also the world leader in the outdoor event.
The other nominees for the title were fellow world-record breakers Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey (5000m), Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan (hour run) and Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir (half marathon, women only).
Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis took the male equivalent after setting world records in the indoor event (6.18 metres) in February and outdoors (6.15 metres) in September.
