The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) unveiled the winners of its annual awards, recognizing the continent’s best athletes, coaches, and federations for 2025, a year marked by Kenyan dominance and a standout performance from Botswana.
Kenyan Beatrice Chebet was named the African Athlete of the Year following an exceptional season, highlighted by a historic double in the 5000 m and 10,000 m at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Already a double Olympic champion in Paris 2024, Chebet also holds the world records in both distances (28:54.14 in the 10,000 m and 13:58.06 in the 5000 m, set in Eugene, USA). Born in 2000, she confirms her status as a global endurance icon and a flagbearer for Kenyan athletics.
Her compatriot Faith Kipyegon, World Champion in the 1500 m and runner-up in the 5000 m, took second place in the women’s ranking. In 2025, she added a new world record in the 1500 m and the African record in the 3000 m to her achievements. The podium was completed by another Kenyan, Faith Cherotich, crowned World Champion in the 3000 m steeplechase in Tokyo, one year after her Olympic bronze in Paris.
On the men’s side, the title of African Athlete of the Year went to Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, the new king of the 400 m. World Champion in Tokyo 2025, he became the first athlete from his country to win an individual world title, setting a national record of 43.53 s, before leading Botswana to another gold medal in the 4×400 m relay.
Silver went to Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Olympic Champion in Paris 2024 and World Champion in the 800 m in Tokyo, where he set a championship record. His consistency makes him the natural heir to the legend David Rudisha. Tanzanian Alphonce Felix Simbu completed the men’s podium with his historic marathon world title (2:09:48), a first for Tanzania.
The Best U21 Female Athlete award went to Ethiopian Birke Haylom (1500 m), while Kenyan Fanuel Kipkosgei Kouch was named Best Young Male Athlete.
In coaching and technical categories, the awards went to Botswana’s Chilume Chibane Tshwarang and Kenyan Peter Kiprotich Bi, while Nigerian Enifiok Udo Obong was named Best Technical Director.
The Botswana Athletics Federation was crowned Best African Federation of the Year, recognized for its collective performances and the steady progression of its athletes. The Best U21 Federation award went to South Africa.
Finally, the Best African Executive Leader award was given to Kenyan Jackson Tuwei, President of the Kenyan Athletics Federation and First Vice-President of the CAA. An influential member of the World Athletics Council, Tuwei distinguished himself in 2023 by becoming the first Kenyan elected Vice-President of the International Federation.
The 2025 edition of the African Athletics Awards once again confirms the dominance of East Africa in long- and middle-distance events, while highlighting the rise of nations like Botswana and Tanzania on the global stage.
