Awards

Mutai started to post a string of eye-catching performances on the road after his 59:30 win in the Valencia Half Marathon in 2009. In 2010 he ran 2:04:55 in finishing second in Rotterdam, and second in Berlin only 15 seconds slower than that before rounding off with a 59:38 victory in the Delhi Half Marathon. In 2011 he replaced his runner-up spots with two sensational victories in the Boston Marathon, where on an "assisted" course he ran the fastest ever time of 2:03:02, and in New York, where he smashed the record with 2:05:06. He also recorded a personal best for 10km at 27:19 in Boston.

Nathan Clayton presents Geoffrey Mutai with the acclaimed Golden Shoe Trophy

Missing Olympic selection in 2012 Mutai instead won the Berlin Marathon in a world leading 2:04:15 - but only a second ahead of his training partner, Denis Kimetto. His winning time in the Boston 10km, 27:29, was enough for him to lead the rankings at that distance as well.

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year from nominations made by the 350 member races of AIMS.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “It is an honour for AIMS to recognise Geoffrey's exceptional form of last year. I would also like to thank Nathan Clayton, Race Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon for his work in making this presentation possible.”

Geoffrey Mutai comments: “The RAK Half Marathon is a great race and I am very happy to be able to receive this award here. I would like to thank AIMS, their members and award sponsors ASICS for presenting me with this trophy.”

Nathan Clayton said “I am honoured to be able to host this presentation at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon."

Tiki Gelana AIMS/ASICS female Athlete for 2012

In a ceremony following the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in Japan, Tiki Gelana was named as the female AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year for 2012, the first time the award has been won by an Ethiopian woman.. President Emeritus of AIMS Hiroaki Chosa and AIMS Board Member and Vice President of the Japanese Association of Athletics Federations Dr Keisuke Sawaki presented her with the Golden Shoe Trophy.

Gelana (25) joins male compatriots Gezahenge Abera (2000) and Haile Gebrselassie (2006, 2007 & 2008) in winning the prestigious award. She started 2012 with a runaway win and personal best of 1:08:48 in the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon but that was just a warm-up for a decisive 5-minute victory in Rotterdam, where she became the fifth woman ever to break 2:19 for the Marathon. The following week Mary Keitany won the London Marathon in the only faster time posted during the year, but when both went to London for the Olympic Games Marathon it was Gelana who triumphed. Despite an early fall she stayed in the ever dwindling group until, with 4km left, she made a strong push for the finish, persisting even when it seemed it was to no effect. Only in the final kilometre did she start to edge ahead of her three remaining rivals, crossing the line in a new Olympic record of 2:23:07.

(left to right): President Emeritus of AIMS Hiroaki Chosa, Tiki Gelana and Vice President of the Japanese Athletics Federation Dr Keisuke Sawaki.

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year from nominations made by the 350 member races of AIMS. Previous female winners include Liz McColgan (GBR), Uta Pippig (GER), Tegla Loroupe (KEN), Naoko Takahashi (JPN), Catherine Ndereba (KEN), Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Mizuki Noguchi (JPN), Lornah Kiplagat (NED), Constantina Dita (ROM) and Mary Keitany (KEN).

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “I am delighted that AIMS can recognise this fantastic athlete with the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award. Tiki demonstrated excellent form in 2012 culminating in her magnificent Gold Medal winning performance at the London Olympic Games. It is with great pleasure we recognise her achievements on behalf of the 350 members of AIMS in over 95 countries throughout the world.”

In 2011 Geoffrey Mutai (30) became the first person in history to win the Boston and New York marathons in the same year with record times in both. He won the Boston Marathon in the fastest time ever recorded for a marathon at 2:03:02, almost three minutes faster than the course record. However, due to wind assistance and overall drop on the point to point course this time could not be ratified as a world record. Mutai returned to Boston in June to compete in the inaugural B.A.A. 10km where he won in a personal best of 27:19. In November of 2011, Geoffrey won the New York Marathon in a course record time of 2:05:06, slicing 2 minutes and 37 seconds off the venerable event’s 10-year old course record.

Mary Keitany joins a very exclusive club with her second AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year award, her first coming in 2009. Mary is one of five female athletes who have won the award more than once. The others are; Lornah Kiplagat (NED, 2 wins), Paula Radcliffe (GBR, 3 wins), Tegla Loroupe (KEN, 4 wins) and Uta Pippig (GER, 2 wins).

Mary began 2011 in blistering form, winning the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in a World Record time of 1:05:50. In March she won the London Marathon in a personal best time of 2:19:19, making her the fourth fastest woman at that time over the marathon distance behind only Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and Mizuki Noguchi.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “It is an honour for AIMS to recognise these fantastic athletes with the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award. Both Geoffrey and Mary demonstrated exceptional form last year. It is with great pleasure we recognise their achievements on behalf of the 310 members of AIMS in over 95 countries throughout the world. I would like to give special thanks to Nathan Clayton for his making these presentations possible.”

Geoffrey Mutai comments: “I am honoured to win this prestigious award. I know how many great Kenyan athletes have won it in the past and it is a great honour to be in the same compan. I’m happy to be back in the RAK half marathon, which is a great race. For me it’s a good preparation on the way to the Boston Marathon. I would like to thank AIMS, their members and award sponsors ASICS for presenting me with this trophy.”

Mary Keitany comments: “To be named as AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year for a second time in my career is an incredible honour. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to AIMS for their support and award sponsors ASICS for this prestigious award.”

Race Director, Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon and AIMS Continental PR Manager for Asia, Nathan Clayton comments: “I am delighted to host this presentation at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. It is especially pleasing to welcome Mary back to the race where she broke the Half Marathon World Record in 2011 and Geoffrey as a past winner of this event. I would like to thank the AIMS board for choosing this event as the host of such a prestigious ceremony.

She continued to improve in 2011, running a personal best 2:20:15 in the London Marathon. In October she started the Chicago Marathon as heavy favourite and won for a third straight time in 2:18:20, claiming the 2010/11 World Marathon Major series in the process. Liliya’s astonishing time in Chicago set a new Russian record and has made her the second fastest female marathon runner in history behind world record holder, and former AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year, Paula Radcliffe.

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year from nominations made by the 310 member races of AIMS. Previous winners include Liz McColgan (GBR), Uta Pippig (GER), Tegla Loroupe (KEN), Naoko Takahashi (JPN), Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Mizuki Noguchi (JPN), Lornah Kiplagat (NED) Constantina Dita (ROM) and Mary Keitany (KEN).

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “It is a great honour for AIMS to recognise the fantastic achievements of Liliya Shobukhova. She had an exceptional season last year and I am delighted to acknowledge her dominance on behalf of the 310 members of AIMS in over 95 countries throughout the world.”

Liliya Shobukhova comments: “To be named as the first Russian athlete to win this prestigious award is a great honour and I am especially delighted to receive this great trophy in my capital city of Moscow. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to AIMS for their great support and this fine award.”

Gothenburg Half Marathon Race Director Bo Edsberger presented the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe at a short ceremony prior to the Gothenburg Half Marathon on 21 May. Makau joins fellow Kenyans Benson Masya, Paul Tergat, Josephat Kiprono & Sammy Wanjiru as winners of the award.

Patrick had an outstanding year last year winning the 36th edition of the City-Pier-City Half Marathon in The Hague with a time of 59:52. After this he significantly improved his marathon best to 2:04:48 to win the Rotterdam Marathon, and become the fourth fastest Marathon runner ever. He followed up this achievement by winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:05:08.

The AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are made each year through nominations from AIMS member races, which total over 400 races in more than 120 countries & territories.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “It is a privilege for us to award this honour to Patrick Makau. Patrick had an outstanding year last year and is a worthy successor to the crown held by his countryman the late Sammy Wanjiru.”

Patrick Makau Musyoki comments: “This is my first AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award and I am honoured for my name to be listed among some of the greatest athletes and distance runners of all time. I would like to thank AIMS and its members for their recognition.”

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided from nominations made by the 300+ member races. Previous winners, apart from Tergat, include Josia Thugwane (South Africa), Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil), Abel Anton (Spain), Khalid Kannouchi (USA), Stefano Baldini (Italy) and Jaouad Gharib (Morocco).

AIMS president Hiroaki Chosa commented: "It is a privilege to honour Haile's achievements. This third successive Golden Shoe confirms that he is not just an athlete of the highest calibre but is probably "the greatest" marathon runner the world has yet seen."

Mary Keitany (KEN) has been awarded the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award in Berlin, Germany where on 9 May she contests the BIG Berlin 25km race, in which expectations of her setting a World record are high.

AIMS Board Member Horst Milde presented the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe to Keitany at a ceremony prior to the race. She becomes the first Kenyan woman to win the award since Catherine Ndereba in 2001.

28-year old Keitnay, set a new personal best of 32:09 in the World 10K Bangalore in May 2009 and in October went on to win the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham in a new personal best of 1:06:36 - the second fastest time ever run. She took a second gold as part of the winning team, all just 15 months after the birth of her son Jared.

The AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Awards were founded in 1992 and are decided each year from nominations made by AIMS member races, of which there are over 300 in 91 countries. Recent winners include Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Mizuki Noguchi (JPN), Lornah Kiplagat (NED) & Constantina Dita (ROM).

AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa commented: “It is my pleasure to acknowledge the great achievements of Mary Keitany. Mary had an exceptional year in 2009 and proved that she is an athlete of the highest standard”

Mary Keitany said: “It is a fantastic honour to join a list of such esteemed winners, and a great source of inspiration to me. I would like to thank AIMS, ASICS and everyone involved. I am happy to be here in Berlin and I am looking forward to taking part in the 25K event.”

More than 10,000 entries are expected for the 30th edition of the BIG 25 Berlin, which will also features a 10 k race, a 5×5 k relay and a children’s event. All events will finish on the blue track inside the famous Berlin Olympic Stadium, which hosted the IAAF World Championships last summer.

Constantina Dita won the gold medal for the marathon at the Beijing Olympics last August, becoming the oldest Olympic marathon champion ever at the age of 38 years and 7 months.

Presenting the "Golden Shoe" award Hiroaki Chosa commented: "Constantina Dita proved at the Olympics that she is an athlete of the highest calibre, and it is my pleasure to present her with this prestigious award on behalf of 270 members of AIMS from around the globe."

Constantina Dita said: "It is fantastic to join a list of such esteemed winners of this award. I would like to say thank you to everyone involved".

She captured the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award for the second year running. AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa commented: "Lornah Kiplagat is now among the all-time great athletes and her achievements at the highest level are recognised globally by these awards."

Lornah Kiplagat said "I very much appreciate this award. It is an honour that so many people in the distance running world voted for me. I want to also say a special thank you to AIMS and ASICS."

Haile Gebrselassie was presented with the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe at the Hotel "Le Meridien" in Lisbon on 14 March in recognition of his performances throughout 2007. He received the top award in world road racing from AIMS Vice President Carlos Moya prior to the Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday 16 March.

He has now won two years in a row, something that no other male runner has achieved since this award was first presented in 1992. Twice Olympic champion at 10,000m Gebrselassie ran his first serious marathon in 2002, recording a time of 2:06:35. He improved to 2:05:56 in Berlin in 2006 and last year, on the same course, set a new World Record for the distance of 2:04:26. If his time for 2008 (2:04:53), the second fastest ever run, remains unbeaten this year he will have led the Marathon standings for the last four years – longer than anyone else since the distance was standardised in 1924.

Haile Gebrselassie commented "It means a lot that so many people at the top of world running voted for me. To win this prestigious award two years in a row is very special and I feel greatly honoured."

2006 Performances

12 OCT 2006 20K World Championships, Hungary 1:03:21

12 OCT 2006 15K World Championships, Hungary 47:10

18 SEPT 2006 10 mile Dam tot Dam, Netherlands 50:50

AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa comments: “It is with pleasure we recognise the considerable achievement of Lornah Kiplagat. Lornah is one of the World’s most talented female runners of our time. She has worked very hard for many years to reach the very top of her sport. She is a credit to the sport investing much of her prize money winnings into funding a High Altitude Training Centre in Kenya for promising young athletes.”

Lornah Kiplagat remarked: “I am delighted to accept this prestigious award. It is always an honour to have your performances recognised and it is particularly pleasing to receive an award where over 80 countries around the world have been involved in the nomination process. I feel greatly honoured.”

Haile Gebrselassie was presented with the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe award at the offices of the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa on 17 September by his former coach Dr Woldmeskel Kostrea. The award recognises Gebrselassie as the outstanding male runner of 2006, during which he set a personal best time of 2:05:56 in winning the real,- Berlin Marathon.

Dr Woldmeskel Kostrea presents AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe Award to Haile Gebrselassie.

AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa commented: ‘Haile is one of the greatest and most talented distance runners of all time. He has worked very hard for many years to reach the very top of his sport and his smooth, almost effortless stride makes him an extraordinarily gifted long distance runner’ Haile Gebrselassie remarked: ‘I very much appreciate this award. I would just like to say thank you to everyone involved in the world of distance running.’

Baldini received the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe from the Deputy President of the Organising Committee of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games (TOROC), Evelina Christillin.

Receiving the award from the TUROC Deputy President effectively extended the Olympic spirit of Athens 2004.

The Italian Champion will be the first bearer of the Olympic Torch of Torino 2006.

Mizuko Noguchi , Olympic Champion at the Marathon and fastest in the world at half marathon in 2004 (1:07:47) was the women's winner of the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award for 2004. She was presented with her "Golden Shoe" trophy by AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa at the Kagawa-Marugame Half Marathon on 5 February 2005. It was her first competitive race of the year.

Her Olympic victory retained the women's marathon crown for Japan won four years previously by Naoko Takahashi in Sydney. Mizuko Noguchi remarked: "I feel proud that Japanese athletics is so well thought of by so many countries around the world."

Hiroaki Chosa, President of AIMS said: "Today we recognise Paul Tergat's great achievements, not only as a world class athlete but also as an ambassador of whom his sport and his country can be proud."

Paul Tergat said: "I am honoured to accept the award not only for myself but on behalf of the many people who have worked hard to make me the athlete I am today".

The award covers 2003, of which the running highlight was undoubtedly Tergat's World Record performance in the real,- BERLIN MARATHON on 28 September where he ran a new world record time of 2:04:55.

British athlete Paula Radcliffe received a boost in New York on 4 November, just three days before attempting to win the ING New York City Marathon. She received the top award in world road racing, the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year award for 2003, from New York Race Director and AIMS Vice-President Allan Steinfeld.

During 2003 Paula set two world records on the road: for 10km (San Juan PUR, 30:21), and the Marathon (London GBR, 2:15:25) respectively. She dropped out at 36km in the Olympic Marathon in Athens earlier this year, but hopes to recapture form by winning this weekend in New York.

Hiroaki Chosa, President of AIMS comments "It is with pleasure we recognize today the considerable achievements of Khalid Kannouchi.

His consistency over many years at the top of his sport marks him out as a special performer in World athletics. AIMS is pleased to recognize his considerable achievements over the last year."

Khalid Kannouchi comments, "I am delighted to accept this global award. The fact that over 60 countries around the world have been involved in the nomination process makes me feel greatly honored."

Britain's Paula Radcliffe lowered the women's marathon debut record in London in setting a world fastest time for a women-only event, 2:18:56. This was nine seconds short of Catherine Ndereba's existing world fastest time, set in a mixed race in Chicago six months previously. Later in the year Radcliffe herself ran in Chicago and lowered Ndereba's record by a minute and a half, to 2:17:18

The outstanding Kenyan athlete Catherine Ndereba was today (10/10/02) announced in Chicago, USA as the top female athlete in the world during 2001 by the Association of International Marathon and Road Races (AIMS).

Ndereba has received the top award in World road running, the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe in Chicago today from AIMS Marketing Director Wim Verhoorn.

Hiroaki Chosa, President of AIMS comments "It is with pleasure we recognise the magnificent achievements of Catherine Ndereba a world class athlete who has been consistently performing at the top of her sport for some time now."

Catherine Ndereba comments, "I am delighted to receive this prestigious award. It is a great honour as over 60 counties are involved in the nomination process I feel honoured to accept the award. This is a real boost in advance of Sunday's race.'

Catherine Ndereba was in a class by herself during 2001. She ran 17 road races over distances from 5km to the marathon and won 15 of them. She won the Boston Marathon (2:23:53) and then went on to win the Chicago Marathon in a world best time of 2:18:47 (breaking Naoko Takahashi's two-week old mark of 2:19:47 - the first ever sub-2:20 performance by a woman).

Japanese athlete Naoko Takahashi was acclaimed as the top female runner in the world during millenium year 2000 by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. The award recognises in particular her Olympic victory in Sydney.

The day after competing in the 2001 Berlin Marathon on 30 September, where she became the first woman to run under 2:20 for the Marathon, AIMS President Hiroaki Chosa handed over the award and observed: "Naoko Takahashi is not only a world class athlete but also an ambassador for our sport and my country. We are proud of her."

Naoko Takahashi replied: "I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the people and country of Japan and the many people who have worked hard to help me become the athlete I am today. Thank you, Mr Chosa."

The athlete from Soria dedicated this honour to his colleague Martin Fiz because, he explained, they had together raised awareness of the marathon. "I hope that our successes will inspire younger athletes to repeat such triumphs in the future."

Francisco Borao, the AIMS representative for the Mediterranean region, handed over the golden shoe, which members of AIMS award annually to the best marathon runner.

Borao explained that the trophy is "a clear recognition, from both the marathon and the media world, of Anton's achievements".

Abel Anton said that after 25 years of racing his body had begun to tell him "enough", in referring to the injury which, for the moment, has put him out of competition. "It costs a lot to maintain peak condition. The marathon is very punishing and I think it will be difficult to run in the next Olympic Games".

Tegla Loroupe was dominant in 1999. Running 30 races on road, track and country she won 14 of them. Foremost among these was a world Marathon record of 2:20:43 set in Berlin. She went on to win the IAAF World Half Marathon Champioships in Palermo with a performance of 68:48

Loroupe wins the award for the second time. Among her victories in 1997 were: Meia Maratona de Lisboa (1:09:01), Rotterdam Marathon, in which she set the fastest time of the year (2:22:07), and the World Half Marathon Championships, Kosice (1:08:14)

Paul Tergat received the AIMS/ASICS Golden Shoe Award for 1996 following the Brussels Grand Prix athletic meeting where he set a new 10000m world record of 26:27.85. AIMS Marketing Director Wim Verhoorn made the presentation in recognition of his achievements in 1996 including his second world cross country title. He would have run the world's fastest ever half marathon at Milano but his 58:51 occurred on a course which was re-measured and found short by a frustrating 49m.

Uta Pippig was awarded an unconventional Golden Shoe as the trophy recognising her as AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year 1996 by the Berlin Marathon race director Horst Milde. Pippig was in Berlin, but the intended trophy was not. Milde, also widely known in his city as the owner of a bakery, presented Pippig with a stand-in bread "Shoe" specially baked to a golden hue. The award recognises her achievement in winning the BAA Boston Marathon for the third successive year, where she scored an emphatic victory over the world record-holder Tegla Loroupe (2:27:12 to 2:28:37).

No award was made in the men's category for 1995

Tegla Loroupe took the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award for 1995 with excellent performances at a variety of distances. She ran the year's second fastest time (31:38) over 10km on the road (New York), the fourth fastest over 15km (48:52, Tampa), the fourth fastest over 10miles (52:17, Zaandam), and three of the year's five fastest half marathon performances (1:08:12 at Route du Vin; 1:08:21 at Lisbon; and 1:08:39 at Tokyo).

Vincent Rousseau captured the 1994 AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award with the year's fastest non-aided marathon performance. The 2:07:51 he ran in winning the Fukuoka Marathon followed up his 2:09:08 performance earlier in the year

Uta Pippig Won the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year award for 1994 by recording two world leading times, in the half marathon (Kyoto, 1:07:59), and the marathon. Her super-fast time in Boston was wind-aided, but she scored a clear victory (2:21:45 to 2:23:33) over 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold medalist Valentina Yegorova.

In 1993 Dionicio Ceron won the Rotterdam marathon in 2:11:06, which gave him an invitation to race at Fukuoka. The 2:08:51 time he recorded there became the world's fastest for 1993 and captured the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award.

No award was made in the women's category for 1993

The inaugural men's award in 1992 went to Benson Masya , who won the first ever IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, held from Newcastle to South Shields (GBR), with a time of 1:00:24.

Liz McColgan was the first female winner of the AIMS/ASICS Athlete of the Year Award in 1992. Like Benson Masya, the men's winner, she won the inaugural IAAF World Half Marathon Championships at South Shields. She recorded three of the top four half-marathon performances that year with victories at Tokyo (1:07:11), Dundee (1:08:33), and South Shields (1:08:53).