Heartbreak struck some of track and field’s brightest stars, leaving them feeling like they were left out in the cold. Despite claiming gold in Paris, athletes like Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, and Sydney McLaughlin were down in the dumps after the ANOC Awards for Best Male and Female Athlete took an unexpected turn. What many thought would be a walk in the park for some of these icons turned out to be different as hopes were dashed for those who had set their sights on these honors.

In the women’s category, the cream of the crop included Beatrice Chebet, Faith Kipyegon, Gabby Thomas, Julien Alfred, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Marileidy Paulino. For the men, athletes like Grant Holloway, Letsile Tebogo, Noah Lyles, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Rai Benjamin, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen were in the running for this coveted title. All had poured blood, sweat, and tears into their Paris performances, and with such fierce competition, everyone knew it would be a toss-up as to who would walk away with the prize.

When the dust finally settled, it was Julien Alfred and Letsile Tebogo who stole the spotlight, and for good reason! So, what made them stand out? The ANOC jury looked back at a packed year of jaw-dropping performances to decide who truly deserved the top spot. And with the Olympics in full swing, track and field saw some serious action, as athletes brought their A-game and gave it their all, each making a strong case for the honor.

Julien Alfred absolutely earned her spot at the top this year. Her 2024 season was nothing short of legendary, with one title after another, crowning her the sprint queen of the year. After her jaw-dropping performances in Paris, she was also honored at the first-ever CANOC Sports Awards. There, she took home the Caribbean Female Sports Personality of the Year and shared the Breakthrough Award with Dominica’s triple jumper Thea LaFond. For Saint Lucia, Alfred’s victories are a huge source of pride, inspiring not only the present generation but also the ones to come.

However, in Paris, Gabby Thomas made her mark by winning the 200 meters against Julien Alfred. After Alfred secured gold in the 100 meters, she faced tough competition from Thomas, who finished with an impressive time of 21.83 seconds. Alfred took silver at 22.08 seconds, while Brittany Brown of the U.S. clinched bronze by narrowly edging out Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita.

But let’s not forget, Letsile Tebogo’s recognition was just as well-deserved. This year, he brought the heat on the track, delivering performances that truly set him apart and earned him a spot among the world’s best.

The shocking performance that changed Africa’s track future forever by beating Noah Lyles!

Letsile Tebogo, this young talent from Botswana really made a splash in Paris, stunning triple world champion Noah Lyles to take home the gold in the men’s 200m final. He didn’t stop there—Tebogo also anchored the Botswana 4x400m relay team to a silver medal, finishing just behind the U.S. squad led by Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin. Talk about a phenomenal year!

After being named the best male athlete, Letsile Tebogo really made it clear that Africa is just getting started and is ready to shine by the LA 2028 Olympics. He mentioned that winning gold not only changed the game for him personally but also brought a sense of unity across the entire continent. He explained that they set their sights on the 200m gold because it’s a bit less tactical, allowing them to really focus and go for it.

He expressed how proud he felt that Africa came together as one strong force, and everyone should definitely watch out because Africa is on the rise! Tebogo also shared how much the ANOC award means to him, saying it really pushes him to keep moving forward. He celebrated this achievement alongside other incredible athletes at the event, like six-time Olympic table tennis champion Ma Long from China and New Zealand’s eight-time Olympic gold medallist, Lisa Carrington.