Keep Moving Forward: Yulimar Rojas among 5 Finalists for Female World Athlete of the Year (+ List)
Venezuelan triple-jump athlete Yulimar Rojas continues to make history. Rojas is on the list of the five finalists for Female World Athlete of the Year, announced today by the World Athletics governing body.
The winner will be revealed next Saturday, December 5.
The Venezuelan hero was already on the list of ten finalists, but now she is one step closer to achieving this important recognition. In addition, Rojas now represents the only Latin American on the finalist list.
Joining Yulimar Rojas in this select Top Five are the Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Dutch Sifan Hassan, the Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir, and the Ethiopian Letensebet Gidey.
RELATED CONTENT: Triple Jump Champion: Yulimar Rojas Arrives in Venezuela With a World Record
#WorldAthleticsAwards announcement✨
Yulimar Rojas (@TeamRojas45) is one of five finalists for Female Athlete of the Year. pic.twitter.com/AE3bmUHMqD
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) November 24, 2020
In 2017 Venezuelan world champion triple-jumper Rojas won the Rising Star, a World Athletics award given to the best young athlete of the year.
So far only two Latin Americans have ever received the distinction of Female World Athlete of the Year: Cuban Ana Fidelia Quirot in 1989, and Colombian Catherine IbargĂĽen in 2018.
The Venezuelan has all the merits to take this award, since she remains undefeated in her category, and in 2020 she won in all her competitions. Despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic she continued to demonstrate her competitiveness, talent, and strength.
Yulimar Rojas entre las finalistas a Atleta Femenina 2020 de la @WorldAthletics ❤
V E N E Z U E L A 🇻🇪 agradecemos a todos los que votaron por la reina de este @teamrojas45 🥇
¿Ahora? A esperar el 5 de diciembre: fecha que anunciarán a los mejores del 2020
¡Vamos a ti, Yuli! pic.twitter.com/HfLNpbbotz
— Yulimar Rojas (@TeamRojas45) November 24, 2020
In February this year, at the Villa de Madrid Meeting, Rojas set a new world record, jumping 15.43 meters, breaking Tatyana Lebedeva’s 15.36-meter mark.
Then, in the first event after the pause due to the pandemic, the Venezuelan won in Monaco with 14.27 meters in the open, achieving the best mark in the competition.
Voting for the Female World Athlete of the Year is carried out in these three ways: the World Athletics Council votes by mail and constitutes 50% of the votes. Then the World Athletics Family has 25% of the votes, and the remaining 25% belongs to the general public.
Featured image: Photo courtesy of @TeamRojas45
Translation: OT/JRE/SL
