Faith Kipyegon will look to become the first ever Kenyan woman to win the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year award after being named in the final shortlist of five for the 2021 trophy.
Kipyegon successfully defended her 1500m Olympic title and then went on to clinch the Diamond League trophy in the same race, twice breaking the Kenyan record in the process.
The 27-year old finished off her well worked season with victory at the Kip Keino Classic, a leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour in Nairobi.
She will contest for the crown against her eternal rival Sifan Hassan with whom she shares management with. Hassan had a dominant performance at the Olympic Games where she won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m and her hopes of a historic triple gold was halted by Kipyegon in the 1500m.
Hassan had hoped to become the first ever woman to win three long distance gold medals at the Olympic Games, but finished third to clinch bronze in the 1500m.
Others who will vie for the crown is Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas who clinched the Olympic and Diamond League crowns and went on to break the world record. She is the only field athlete in the shortlist.
Another strong contender for the title is Jamaican sprint queen Elaine Thompson-Herah. The Jamaican won three gold medals at the Olympic Games, winning the 100m and 200m as well as guiding her team to the 4x100m gold medal.
She also clinched the Diamond League trophy and ran the second fastest 100m time of all time.
Another nominee for the award is American 400m hurdler Sidney McLaughlin who also had a stellar season winning two gold medals at the Olympic Games in her hurdles speciality as well as the 4x400m relay.
The American also twice broke the world record in the 400m hurdles.