Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson might have stolen the spotlight this season, but they were once again passed over. The USATF Athlete of the Year award 2024 has been declared, but this year Gabby Thomas and Grant Holloway’s athletic dominance has led them to one of the highest honors in track and field. Their contribution to sports this year is undeniable and resonates equally through their achievements and effects on the crowds and the sporting fraternity. But who gets this annual recognition?

The Olympic golds capped Thomas’s excellent season, while Holloway claims his chops due to his dominance in the hurdles discipline. Fans are thrilled after hearing the news, and all are going gaga over the respective wins. What have they both done to receive this honor?

USATF’s new stars of the year

In a year filled with fierce competition and impressive performances from athletes like Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, Holloway and Thomas captured this esteemed recognition. Both of them are Olympic gold medalists in the 2024 Paris Olympics. They were also nominees for the World Athletics Athlete of the Year award but could not win that one.

The news has been broken on the official ‘X’ handle of USATF, which is reposted by Gabby Thomas as well. Thomas won the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award as the top U.S. female track and field athlete for 2024, which was awarded to Lyles last time. Whereas Holloway became the first-ever hurdler to win the Jesse Owens Award as the top U.S. male track and field athlete since 2010, which was awarded to David Oliver. Noah Lyles also won this award in 2022 and 2023.

The eligibility criteria of USATF are as follows: Athletes aged 35 and older can join USATF Masters Track & Field (MTF), while those aged 25-34 may compete as sub-masters, with all participants required to submit proof of birthdate in their USATF profile where affiliation details are available; for certain events, athletes may also need to provide a copy of their child’s birth certificate for verification, as USATF governs track & field, cross-country, race walking, and long-distance running.

Holloway won the 110-meter hurdles, breaking his own 60-meter hurdles world record in 2024. Thomas won triple gold medals in the 200m, 4x400m, and 4x100m events in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Joanna Hayes, who coaches Rai Benjamin, won the 2024 USATF Coach of the Year award. 

The American hurdler, Grant Holloway, has many golds in her bucket, including three World Championships, two World Indoor Championships, one Diamond League and a World Indoor Tour in 60 m and 100 m hurdles. He even broke the 40-year-old world record of 110 m hurdles in 2019 by stopping the clock at 12.98 s at the NCAA Division I Championships. He also set a world record in 60m indoor hurdles with 7.29s in Spain, and many more are on the list.

Gabby Thomas is no less; the 27-year-old sprinter was the second-fastest at US Olympic trials with 21.61s time, only behind Florence Griffith-Joyner. She began her track and field in 2018 and did her master’s in public health in epidemiology. She also won 200 m at the final pre-Olympic Diamond League held in London. In September 2024, she ranked second at the Athlos track meet in New York City. With all these achievements, Thomas and Holloway won the title for the athlete of the year, surpassing legends like Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. Fans are happy for both of them and flooded their love through comments.

Fans are pouring all their love on both of them 

Fans are thrilled at such richly deserved accolades, emptying cheers into social media. In the subsequent re-post series, it seems that fans were thankful towards Gabby and Holloway for winning, as supporters hailed her as a “superstar” and celebrated their much-awaited wins. One fan commented, “Well deserved!!! Congratulations to both!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾,” and another fandom exclaimed, “Wow! What a stellar and worthy recipient!! So well deserved after such a brilliant season culminating with Olympic golds! Woowoo!”

Their awards exhibit the dedication each athlete brings to their craft, inspiring all others to follow them as an example. As they say, hard work never goes in vain; the same goes for both of them. Thomas’ and Holloway’s hard work paid off in the form of this recognition.

Gabby Thomas’ fans also poured in their love and blessings in the form of comments. One fan wrote, “Some good athletes to choose from. Congratulations Gabby.” Another even wished for her to win International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Athlete of the Year, “Should have been IAAF AOY too.” 

Gabby Thomas’s fans clearly hold her in high esteem, viewing her recent accomplishments as only a part of her potential. According to them, she deserves even greater accolades. This overwhelming support reflects her influence beyond her athletic achievements.

“Congratulations Gabby!!!! Such a great woman for our sport and beyond!,”  wrote one netizen. The sentiment of fans shows how Thomas’ success feels personal to them. With these new accolades in the bucket of Gabby Thomas and Grant Holloway, they are rooting towards their bright future ahead. Both fans and the sporting world are looking forward to more such achievements. Till then, tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.