Monaco – Kenyan athletics coach Ruth Jepchumba Bundotich has been honoured as the 2025 World Athletics Woman of the Year, recognising her exceptional leadership, dedication to athlete development, and pioneering contributions to women’s athletics both in Kenya and internationally.
Bundotich, a trailblazer in coaching, has become a key figure in nurturing young and female talent through her work with Ikaika Sports Agency and Adidas Running, creating sustainable pathways that empower athletes on and off the track. Her holistic approach has been credited with developing breakout stars like world record-holder Agnes Ngetich, highlighting the broader ecosystem Bundotich has cultivated.
“I am deeply honoured by this recognition from World Athletics,” Bundotich said. “This acknowledgement reflects the collective commitment to nurturing young talents, particularly girls in athletics. It takes an ecosystem of committed people—coaches, mentors, and families—to responsibly develop athletes, and this recognition belongs to all of them.”
The Woman of the Year Award celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to athletics, especially in advancing opportunities for women and girls. Bundotich joins a distinguished lineage of honourees celebrated for driving equity and progress in the sport.
The award was part of the World Athletics Awards 2025 in Monaco, where other top honours included Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis and USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who were named World Athletes of the Year.
Duplantis, the pole vault sensation, and McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400m and 400m hurdles star, capped a night celebrating six category winners and rising stars, including Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men’s track) and Edmund Serem (men’s Rising Star), as well as China’s Zhang Jiale (women’s Rising Star).
Other notable winners included Spain’s Maria Perez and Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers in the out-of-stadium and women’s field categories, respectively, and Australian broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, who received the President’s Award for his lifelong contribution to sports media and athletics.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe hailed the event as a celebration “for the athletes, by the athletes,” praising the 2025 season as one of the most memorable and commercially impactful in the sport’s history, culminating in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Bundotich’s recognition underscores Kenya’s growing influence in athletics, not only through elite competitors but also through the mentors and coaches shaping the next generation of stars.