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Social Diary by Candace Durocher

World Athletes of the Year awards 2007

The week may have started off rough for the track and field community. Not pleasant for anyone was that International Association of Athletics Federations decision to ban sprinter Marion Jones for two years and demand the return of her Olympic medals and prize money after her confession to using performance enhancement drugs. But the annual meeting of the athletic fraternity ended on a graceful note, celebrating those who have pledged to rise in their sport on talent and spirit alone.

Out in their bow ties and evening gowns, the IAAF family, as president president Lamine Diack likes to call it, honoured sprinter Tyson Gay of the USA and middle distance runner Meseret Defar of Ethiopia as the top athletes in the world for 2007.

As they spoke, both winners showed they had a sense that what they were about was much bigger than what takes place on the track. At the gathering of many generations of sports heroes, Gay shared a table with the likes of Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Lee Evans and expressed wonder at and appreciation for the struggles his predecessors endured to cut a path for today's athletes. In a touching speech, Defar dedicated her award to Ethiopian women who wake up every day to face difficulties such as not having enough to eat.

Among the other awardees of the evening were Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell and Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic for the performances of the year. Marathoners Paula Radcliffe of Britain and Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia received Inspirational Awards. And the legendary nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis received the Hero of Athletics Award.

Photos: © DP Inc.


World Athletes of the Year (selected by votes from the public and the IAAF family), US sprinter Tyson Day, and Ethopian middle distance runner Meseret Defar with Prince Albert II	Newcomer of the Year, high jumper Donald Thomas, of The Bahamas


Having fun on stage were Olympians Carl Lewis, Lee Evans, Svetlana Masterkova and Sergey Bubka	Presenter, Jamaica-born Canadian Olympic medallist Charmaine Crooks


Carl Lewis and IAAF president Lamine Diack	Delois and Olympic gold medallist Tommie Smith


World long jump silver medallist, Italy's Andrew Howe	Rising Star Award winner, Kenya's Ruth Bisibori Nyangau	Sprinter Frankie Fredericks, Namibian Olympic medallist


American triple jumper Mike Conley	IAAF vice-president Lord Sebastian Coe


Vera Stiegler with Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, Olympic gold medallist	Prince Albert with inventor of the back-first high jump technique, golden Olympian Dick Fosbury


Pentathlete and sports broadcaster Tracy Mattes with Lord Sebastian Coe	Tyson Gay with Jamaica-born US 400m hurdles Olympic silver medallist Sandra Farmer-Patrick

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Comments to date: 13. Page 1 of 2.

Abdoulie jagne, gambia	Posted at 2:26pm on Thursday, July 31st, 2008
We have a very good athletes in the Gambia but our problem track and promotion. we can be the best in Africa if we have these things
lh, st louis mo	Posted at 8:47pm on Friday, June 6th, 2008
All the athletes are great as they strive to perfect their professionalism. They all are winners.
Mekedes, doha	Posted at 10:12am on Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Good job mesi we love you take care youself...
gonderew, israel	Posted at 12:57pm on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
Haile you are one real Ethiopian! I am proud of you.
Getnet, mugher	Posted at 12:15am on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
As always, all Ethiopians are proud of our jewels, so we expect more from you and the likes.
Wossen, Boston, USA	Posted at 10:50am on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
I am so happy you won, and proud of you. Mesi and Haile you are the pearl of Africa!!
bango-haile, Addis Ababa	Posted at 8:58am on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
I was expecting the crown from Meseret or Haile. No more surprise since we are Ethiopians familiar with such glories. Anyway, Meseret has laid the foundation for Ethiopian and African women as her name implies. Congratulations Messi ! You deserve it. But you begin my sweet.
debu, addis abeba	Posted at 8:44am on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Congrats, Mesi and Tyson.
hirut, Addis Ababa	Posted at 5:42am on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Conguratulation
Samuel K, Vizag ,India	Posted at 3:40am on Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Long Live Ethiopia! We were heroes of the first Millenium and now we will regain it in the third. Bravo Mesi. Proud of You. --Koranibish

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