Overview
- Duplantis broke his pole vault world record four times in 2025, capped by a 6.30m clearance in Tokyo, and went 16-0 with indoor and outdoor world titles plus a fifth Diamond League crown.
- McLaughlin-Levrone won the world 400m in 47.78, the second-fastest ever, remained unbeaten in the 400m and 400m hurdles for two years, and helped the U.S. win 4x400m gold.
- Both also took their discipline awards, with Duplantis named men’s field athlete of the year and McLaughlin-Levrone the women’s track athlete of the year.
- Duplantis used his acceptance to criticize the Grand Slam Track series for excluding field events and for unresolved prize payments after its collapse.
- Other honors went to Nicola Olyslagers (women’s field), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men’s track), Sabastian Sawe and María Pérez (out-of-stadium), and Bruce McAvaney received the President’s Award.