Soufiane El Bakkali, the Moroccan Olympic and world champion, has been named the second-best male athlete of the year 2023 by the African Athletics Confederation (CAA).
El Bakkali, who secured his second consecutive world championship title in August in Budapest, was edged out by Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum. Kiptum, the winner of this year’s Berlin Marathon and the current world record holder in the marathon, claimed the top spot in the rankings.
Notably, the third position in the rankings was secured by Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango, who secured his country’s first world championship title in Budapest, adding to his previous Olympic achievements.
In the women’s category, the African Athletics Confederation (CAA) honored Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon as the standout female athlete of the year. Kipyegon, a double world champion in the 1,500m and 5,000m categories, and the current world record holder in the 1,500m, Mile, and 5,000m events.
Ethiopian runner Tigist Assefa, the world record holder in the marathon for 2023, claimed the second position. Meanwhile, Gudaf Tsegay, another Ethiopian athlete and world champion in the 10,000m category, secured the third spot.
Sportribune
