Athletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam (R) and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim celebrate winning the Female and Male Athlete Of The Year awards REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
(Reuters) - High jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim and heptathlete Nafissatou Thiam were named male and female world athletes of the year by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) at a ceremony in Monaco on Friday.
Qatari Barshim, 26, was unbeaten in 11 competitions in 2017, winning gold at the world championships and romping to the Diamond League crown.
Thiam, 23, also took the world title to add to her Olympic crown and broke through the 7,000 points barrier by registering 7,013 at a meeting in Austria.
Athletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam (2nd L) with the Female Athlete Of The Year award, Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim (2nd R) with the Male Athlete Of The Year award, Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas (R) with the Women's Rising Star Award and Norway's Karsten Warholm (L) with the Male Rising Star Award celebrate with their trophies REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
IAAF President Sebastian Coe presented the trophy to Barshim, while International Athletics Foundation (IAF) Honorary President Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the trophy to Thiam.
"Tonight is our time to celebrate," Coe said. "We have recognised the achievements and remarkable careers of some outstanding athletes, coaches and officials."
Athletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim celebrates with the Male Athlete Of The Year award as IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Prince Albert II of Monaco look on REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
(Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Toby Davis)
Athletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam celebrates winning the Female Athlete Of The Year award as IAAF president Sebastian Coe and Prince Albert II of Monaco look on REUTERS/Eric GaillardAthletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim celebrate winning the Female and Male Athlete Of The Year awards as Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAAF President Sebastian Coe look on REUTERS/Eric GaillardAthletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Prince Albert II of Monaco awards Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam the Female Athlete Of The Year award REUTERS/Eric GaillardAthletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Prince Albert II of Monaco awards Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim the Male Athlete Of The Year award as IAAF President Sebastian Coe looks on REUTERS/Eric GaillardAthletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam celebrates winning the Female Athlete Of The Year award REUTERS/Eric GaillardAthletics - IAAF Athletics Awards - Grimaldi Forum, Monaco - November 24, 2017 IAAF President Sebastian Coe awards Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim the Male Athlete Of The Year award REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
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