All Candidates - First Round
Voting rules
The names of the candidates for The Athlete of the Year will be published on 7 January, 2025 12:00 GMT.
The voting period will open on 9 January 2025 at 12:00 GMT. On 22 January 2025 at 12:00 GMT, only the 10 highest-ranked candidates will continue in the competition, and all vote counts will be reset to zero. Voting will close on 31 January 2025 at 12:00 GMT
Votes may be cast via The World Games website, with a limit of one voting session every 24 hours. Each voting session must include votes for two candidates: 2 votes for your first choice and 1 vote for your second choice. Please note that votes cast for only one candidate will not be counted.
Throughout the campaign, the vote tallies for each candidate will be displayed in real time.
All voters are expected to act in accordance with fair play in sport. The IWGA will monitor the voting process rigorously, and any irregularities will be investigated. Actions contrary to the spirit of sport may result in appropriate consequences.
We encourage everyone to take part and support their favorite athletes!
How to vote
You can vote for your candidate once every 24 hours .
First click on the "Vote" button of your favourite candidate (who will receive two votes )
Then , to make your vote count, click on the "Vote" button of your second favourite candidate (who will receive one vote )
Close
Joey Hadorn
Joey Hadorn started the international season in the best possible way by winning the first World Cup race, the Knock-Out Sprint in Olten on home ground in Switzerland. That was Hadorn’s third ever World Cup win and his first win in a sprint discipline. In July, Hadorn was part of the Swiss team that won the Sprint Relay at the World Orienteering Championships in Edinburgh. Hadorn’s successful third-leg run played a vital role in Switzerland’s first Sprint Relay gold at a World Championships since 2014.
Close
Lise Van Maldeghem
Lise Van Maldeghem (BEL) is a rising star in korfball. At just 21, she has already scored 110 goals in 38 caps for Belgium’s U19, U21, and Senior teams. In the 2023/24 season, Lise joined PKC/Vertom, the reigning Dutch champions, and competes in the prestigious Dutch Kenonz Korfbal League. Beyond her achievements on the court, she inspires young female athletes worldwide, dedicating time to coaching and mentoring future players.
Close
Isabella Lucchin
Isabella Lucchin (BRA), a 28-year-old striker, had a standout year in 2024. She won bronze with SOGIPA/Cargo Way at the World Tour Finals in Mannheim and led her team to first place in the IFA Fistball World Tour rankings. Her greatest achievement came in November, when she helped Brazil dethrone Germany to win the Fistball Women’s World Championship in Montecarlo, Argentina. Known for her powerful return shots, Lucchin also excelled in defense and serving, showcasing her versatility in the final.
Close
Xin Tong
Xin Tong is one of China’s most notable Wushu champions, specializing in Taijiquan and Taijijian: she has won many top national and international awards. Her international debut was at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, where she became the champion in Women's Taijiquan &Taijijian All-Round. In 2024 she was the gold medalist in Women's 42-Style Taijijian at the 4th World Taijiquan Championships, and also in 2024 she became champion in Women's Taijiquan and Taijijian at the National Wushu Taolu Championships.
Close
Yaoyao Hu
24-year-old Yaoyao Hu is an outstanding finswimmer who has been part of a highly successful Chinese team for more than four years. In this year’s World Finswimming Championships in Serbia, she won two individual and three relay gold medals and two individual silver medals, and set one new World Record.
Close
Mengmei Li
Mengmei Li, 38 years old, is the 6th puller of the reigning World Champions China in Women’s 540 kg, Indoor. She has been engaged in Tug of War for more than 18 years, and proudly represents her country on the international stage.
Close
Diego Elias
In May 2024 Diego Elias (PER) became the first-ever South American to become PSA World Champion. As No.3 seed, he beat World No.1 and defending champion Ali Farag of Egypt 3-1 in the semi-final, and No.4 seed Mostafa Asal of Egypt 3-0 in the final, to lift the 2024 CIB PSA World Championship title in Cairo. In August 2024 he won the Pan American Championships.
Close
Veddriq Leonardo
Veddriq Leonardo (INA) won gold at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 in the men’s Speed event. Furthermore he is six-time World Cup gold medalist, and was champion at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Close
Seidou Njimouluh
Seidou Njimouluh (CMR) is a two-time World Champion in Combat SAMBO, and is multiple African Champion, a medalist at the World Combat Games 2023, and a member of the International SAMBO Federation's Athletes’ Commission. Seidou Njimouluh is the first-ever World SAMBO Champion from Africa. During the World African SAMBO Championships 2024 in Cairo (Egypt), Seidou Njimouluh was named as one of the best African athletes of 2023.
Close
Duccio Marsili
Duccio Marsili is an Italian speed skater known for his great personality and team spirit. In 2022 he won three gold medals at The World Games in Birmingham, and in 2023 and 2024 he finally claimed several World titles, consolidating his status as a leading figure in the sport.
Close
Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejía
Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejía (MEX) won the women’s doubles World Racquetball Championships in 2024. Furthermore, they helped Team Mexico win the Women’s Team title with a doubles victory and two victories in singles for Mejía.
Close
Sara Lopez
Sara Lopez (COL) is the only archer to win the Hyundai Archery World Cup more than five times: she has won it 9 times! She’s unbeaten in match-play at the World Cup Final since 2014, with 27 wins until now. Lopez has broken every major world record, and spent more time ranked as world number one than any archer in the World Cup-era. She cemented her legacy in 2021 by winning individual gold at the world championships (along with the team and mixed team titles). She has 2 gold medals from The World Games.
Close
Rayimjonov Davlatbek
Rayimjonov Davlatbek (UZB) is 8-time champion of Uzbekistan and Asian Champion in K1 in 2024. He also reached the finals of the WAKO World Cups in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He won the Kickboxing World Cup Uzbekistan Open in 2022-2024. In addition to this, in 2022, he claimed third place in the Islamic Solidarity Games. Davlatbek has qualified for The World Games 2025.
Close
Xuefeng Ma, Jingwei Shi, Minghe Zhang and Junjie Shi
China’s Men’s Group in Acrobatic Gymnastics — Xuefeng Ma, Jingwei Shi, Minghe Zhang and Junjie Shi — swept the titles at the 2024 World Championships. This year, China has returned to Acrobatic World competition for the first time since 2018. Unable to travel during the pandemic years, the four spent their time developing an other-worldly level of difficulty. The group’s ‘calling card’ is a stunning throw that sends flier Zhang five metres into the air, allowing him to execute a double-twisting triple back somersault, more flips and rotations than any Acrobatic gymnast has ever performed in World competition. The group has won four World titles altogether. In addition to the gold medals, their scores clinched China’s first team title in 30 years.
Close
Kristin Tattar
In the 2023 season, Kristin Tattar (EST) claimed her second World Championship title, became the first woman to achieve the Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments in a single season, secured her first European Championship title, and earned the prestigious Elaine King Player of the Year award. Altogether, she triumphed in 12 high-level tournaments that year. In 2024 Kristin has continued her success, winning seven Disc Golf Pro Tour events so far, including one where she defended her European Open title. To this day, she remains the highest-rated woman in Disc Golf.
Close
Veera Kauppi
Veera Kauppi (FIN) is the world’s best Floorball player, and she has received this accolade four times already, most recently in 2023. In the latest World Floorball Championships, Kauppi was nominated as the Most Valuable Player. With her club team Thorengruppen IBK, Veera Kauppi has been unstoppable. The team has been dominating the Swedish Super League, and they are the reigning league Champions for the fourth year in a row. Thorengruppen are also back-to-back Floorball Champions Cup Champions from 2023 and 2024.
Close
Vanita Krouch
Vanita Krouch (USA) is the most decorated female flag football athlete of all time and widely regarded as the sport’s answer to NFL great Tom Brady for her dominance on the field.
Close
Phil Wizard
Phil Wizard (CAN) made history by winning Olympic gold when Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He is also a World Champion, and the first Breaking winner at the Pan American Games in 2023.
Close
Allison Hoeft & Sydney Martin
With an astonishing 17 World Championship titles between them, Allison Hoeft and Sydney Martin (USA) made Pom Double history when winning the gold medal at the first-ever edition of The World Games Series in 2024. With this historical victory they also secured their places for The World Games 2025, where Cheerleading makes its debut.
Close
Mads Brandt Pedersen
The World Games 2022 champion in K1 Short distance, Mads Brandt Pedersen (DEN) won two gold medals at both the Canoe Marathon World Championships and the Canoe Marathon European Championships in 2024. And he won a Canoe Sprint world title in 2024 as well.
Close
Lucie Marie Kretzschmar
Lucie Marie Kretzschmar (GER) is The World Games 2022 champion in Beach Handball. Furthermore, she’s the World Champion from 2022 and now in 2024, and European Champion in 2021 and 2023. At the World Championships 2024 she was selected as the best defender in the All-star team.
Close
Women's Softball Team
The Japanese Women's National Softball Team won the World Cup this year. It was their fourth World Championship title when they defeated USA 6-1 in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2023/2024 final. This marks Japan's 13th medal overall. They are also reigning Olympic champions from Tokyo 2020. At The World Games 2022, they won silver.
Close
ePrivacy and GPDR Cookie Consent by TermsFeed Generator
