High jumper Nicola Olyslagers has become only the second Australian athlete to be honoured at the World Athletics Awards.
Legendary Australian broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has also been recognised for his contribution to athletics.
Olyslagers was named the female field athlete of the year at a gala event in Monaco.
The award capped off a superb 2025 season in which Olyslagers won the women's high jump at both the world outdoor and indoor championships.
She also lifted the Diamond League crown in Zurich, when she broke the national and Oceania record with a clearance of 2.04 metres.
The 28-year-old is the first Australian to be recognised at the annual awards since hurdler Sally Pearson was voted overall women's athlete of the year in 2011.
"When we were flying over to Monaco, I reflected in my journal of when I was 20 years of age," Olyslagers said.
"I was working in a cafe, washing dishes in the back, saving money to try and get some flights to compete internationally and I was so far away from being competitive.
"But in the back of that cafe, I would dream.
"I'd dream about places where I would try and compete if I could, and I would dream about what I would say to people if I could ever reach that level.
"Now standing eight years later on this stage and in front of each one of you, I want to say that it has sustained me back then in washing dishes and it's sustaining me now on top of the world."
McAvaney, 72, was honoured with the President's Award, which recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics.
"His drive for knowledge, combined with the ability to recognise performance in a historical context … has led him to be acknowledged as one of Australia's greatest sports commentators," World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said.
Accepting the honour, McAvaney said: "To be honoured in this way, and by someone I have such enormous admiration for in Sebastian Coe, is truly one of the highlights of my career."
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States was named women's world athlete of the year following a season that included her stunning victory in the 400m at September's world titles in Tokyo.
McLaughlin-Levrone, a two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion, was also voted women's track athlete of the year.
Swedish pole vault great Mondo Duplantis was named men's world athlete of the year, while also taking out the men's field events award.
AAP/ABC
