Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has become the first Sri Lankan to be nominated for the World Athletics Men’s World Athlete of the Year award, following a remarkable season that included a national record of 92.62 metres and victories at major international competitions.
Sri Lanka’s rising athletics star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has made history after being nominated for the 2026 World Athletics Men’s World Athlete of the Year award, placing him among the 10 leading male athletes recognised for their outstanding performances this year.
The nominations were announced by World Athletics on October 6, ahead of the World Athletics Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Monaco on November 29.
Rumesh’s nomination marks a historic milestone for Sri Lankan athletics, as he becomes the first Sri Lankan to receive a nomination in the prestigious Men’s World Athlete of the Year category.
The 23-year-old javelin thrower has enjoyed an exceptional 2026 season, establishing himself as one of the leading athletes in the world in his discipline. He currently tops the men’s javelin world rankings, according to World Athletics.
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His outstanding performances include a national record throw of 92.62 metres, achieved in Rome on June 4, 2026. The distance also ranks as the leading men’s javelin performance of the season.
Rumesh’s Historic Achievements in 2026
Rumesh has delivered a series of impressive performances on the international circuit this year, securing victories at several major competitions.
He won the javelin throw titles at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, the Diamond League Final, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
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He also secured victories at multiple Diamond League meetings, including competitions in Doha, Lausanne, Zurich and Rome, before winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
His Diamond League Final victory was another significant achievement for Sri Lanka, making him the first Sri Lankan athlete to win a Diamond League Final title.
Rumesh’s success at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship also placed him among the elite international athletes to win an event at a major World Athletics competition.
His performances throughout the season have strengthened his position among the world’s leading javelin throwers and brought unprecedented international recognition to Sri Lankan athletics.
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Ten Nominees for the 2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year Award
Rumesh is among 10 athletes nominated for the 2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year award. The nominees were selected by an international panel of athletics statisticians based on their performances during the season.
The nominees are:
1. Kenneth Bednarek – United States
American sprinter Kenneth Bednarek, nicknamed “Kung Fu Kenny”, is one of the leading athletes in the 200 metres.
He won silver medals in the men’s 200 metres at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In 2026, Bednarek recorded a world-leading time of 19.52 seconds in the 200 metres and won the Diamond League title in the event. He also won both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
2. Kristjan Čeh – Slovenia
Slovenian discus thrower Kristjan Čeh continued his dominance in the throwing events in 2026.
He won the Diamond League discus title with a meeting-record throw of 71.29 metres and retained his European title with a championship-record performance of 72.51 metres.
His consistency and exceptional performances have secured him a place among the leading nominees.
3. Andy Díaz Hernández – Italy
Italian triple jumper Andy Díaz Hernández enjoyed an outstanding season, winning the World Athletics Indoor Championships, European Championships and Diamond League Final.
He recorded a jump of 18.15 metres in 2026, moving to fourth on the world all-time list for the men’s triple jump.
His achievements across major indoor and outdoor competitions made him one of the strongest contenders for the award.
4. Alison dos Santos – Brazil
Brazilian hurdler Alison dos Santos, also known as “Piu”, is one of the leading competitors in the men’s 400 metres hurdles.
A two-time Olympic bronze medallist, having won medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, dos Santos produced a world-record performance of 45.80 seconds in 2026.
He won the World Athletics Ultimate Championship title and remained unbeaten in all 11 of his 400 metres hurdles races during the season, including his victory at the Diamond League Final.
5. Armand “Mondo” Duplantis – Sweden
Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, widely known as Mondo, remains one of the most dominant figures in world athletics.
The Olympic and world champion improved his own pole vault world record to 6.31 metres in 2026.
He also won titles at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, World Indoor Championships and European Championships.
Duplantis has previously won the World Athletics Men’s World Athlete of the Year award in 2020, 2022 and 2025, making him one of the most successful athletes in the history of the honour.
6. Collen Kebinatshipi – Botswana
Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi emerged as one of the leading 400-metre runners in the world in 2026.
He won the men’s 400 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in 43.39 seconds, a performance that ranks fifth on the world all-time list.
He also won the Diamond League title and improved the Diamond League record during the season.
His performances established him as one of the major contenders in the one-lap sprint.
7. Josh Kerr – Great Britain
British middle-distance runner Josh Kerr made headlines in 2026 after setting a world record in the men’s mile.
Kerr recorded a time of 3 minutes and 42.66 seconds at the London Diamond League meeting, breaking the previous world record held by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj since 1999.
He also won the 1,500 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, the 3,000 metres at the World Indoor Championships and the mile at the Commonwealth Games.
Kerr previously won silver in the men’s 1,500 metres at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
8. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage – Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has been recognised for a historic season that placed him among the world’s leading male athletes.
His national-record throw of 92.62 metres in Rome is the leading performance in the men’s javelin for 2026.
He won the javelin title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, the Diamond League Final, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
His performances across the Diamond League circuit, combined with his victories at major international competitions, have made him the first Sri Lankan to receive a nomination for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year award.
Rumesh’s achievement represents a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, which has traditionally had limited representation in the leading categories of global athletics awards.
9. Sabastian Sawe – Kenya
Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe made history at the 2026 London Marathon by completing the race in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
The performance made him the first man to complete a record-eligible marathon in under two hours.
His achievement represented a landmark moment in long-distance running and placed him among the leading athletes of the year.
10. Ja’Kobe Tharp – United States
American hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp was recognised following an outstanding season in the men’s 110 metres hurdles.
He recorded a world-record performance of 12.75 seconds at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Tharp also won the 110 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the Diamond League Final, further strengthening his position among the world’s leading hurdlers.
How Will the Winner Be Selected?
World Athletics has introduced a voting system involving four groups, each contributing 25 per cent of the final result.
The four groups are:
- World Athletics fans: Votes submitted through the official online survey.
- Athletes: Athletes who competed at World Athletics Series events during 2026.
- Media: Accredited journalists, broadcasters and content creators who covered World Athletics Series events during the year.
- World Athletics Family: Representatives from the organisation, its member federations, event organisers, partners and other designated athletics officials.
The voting period for the initial ranking closes on October 17, 2026, at midnight Central European Summer Time.
Following the voting process, six finalists — three women and three men — will be announced on November 10 and 11. The finalists will be invited to Monaco for the World Athletics Awards on November 29, when the winners will be announced.
Fans can participate in the voting process through the official survey: CLICK HERE
Asian Athletes and the World Athletics Awards
Asian athletes have achieved considerable success at Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships. However, representation in the principal annual World Athlete of the Year categories has historically been limited.
Qatar’s high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim won the World Athlete of the Year award in 2017. He also shared the Olympic gold medal in the men’s high jump at Tokyo 2020 with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi. Barshim received the Inspiration Award at the 2021 World Athletics Awards.
China’s hammer thrower Zhang Jiale won the Female Rising Star award at the 2025 World Athletics Awards. Saudi Arabian 400-metre runner Hamdan Al-Bishi won the Male Rising Star award in 2000, while Japanese sprinter Abdul Hakim Sani Brown received the Male Rising Star honour in 2015.
India’s Olympic and world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra was nominated for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year award in 2023, becoming the first Indian athlete to receive a nomination in that category.
Indian long jumper Anju Bobby George also received the World Athletics Woman of the Year award in 2021 in recognition of her contribution to the development of athletics in India, including her work to encourage young people and girls to participate in the sport.
George won a bronze medal in the women’s long jump at the 2003 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.
Rumesh’s nomination now adds a new chapter to South Asian athletics history. His achievement places Sri Lanka among the nations represented in one of the sport’s most prestigious annual individual awards.
A Milestone for Sri Lankan Athletics
Rumesh Tharanga’s nomination is more than individual recognition. It reflects Sri Lanka’s growing presence in international athletics and demonstrates the potential of local athletes to compete at the highest level.
With a national record of 92.62 metres, victories at major international competitions and the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan nominated for the Men’s World Athlete of the Year award, Rumesh has already secured a special place in the country’s sporting history.
The final result will be announced at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 29, 2026.
Regardless of the final outcome, his nomination is a landmark achievement for Sri Lanka and a source of pride for the country’s athletics community.
