The 2021 World Athletics Awards will honour the best performing athletes at the prestigious ceremony in December.

A star-studded 10-strong shortlist has been released for the Female World Athlete of the Year award – featuring those who performed at the highest level across the year, including at the Tokyo Olympics.

GiveMeSport Women takes a look at the 10 nominees and what they've achieved this year.

Valarie Allman, USA

After finishing at the top of the qualifying standings, Valarie Allman went on to win gold in the discus throw at the postponed 2020 Olympics. 

She finished with a best distance of 68.98 metres, beating Germany's Kristin Pudenz, who recorded a new personal best.

Allman was also crowned the Diamond League discus champion and set a new North American discus record.

Valarie Allman

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Puerto Rico 

Track star Jasmine Camacho-Quinn became just the second ever athlete to win an Olympic gold medal while representing Puerto Rico this year.

In Tokyo, she broke the 100m hurdles Olympic record in the semi-final, finishing with a time of 12.26 seconds to equal the fourth fastest time in the world.

Camacho-Quinn then went on to win gold, beating USA's Kendra Harrison, and Megan Tapper of Jamaica.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn

Sifan Hassan, Netherlands

The Dutch runner made history at the Tokyo Olympics – taking home gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metre events as well as bronze in the 1,500 metres.

She is the first athlete in history to win a medal in all three events at the same Games.

As well as her impressive medal haul, Hassan also set a new world record in the 10,000m prior to the Olympics – running 29:06.82.

Sifan Hassan

Faith Kipyegon, Kenya

Faith Kipyegon beat Sifan Hassan in the 1,500m final to win her second ever Olympic gold medal this summer.

She also set a new Olympic record of 3:53.11, as well as becoming the 2021 Diamond League 1,500m champion.

Faith Kipyegon

Mariya Lasitskene, Russian Olympic Committee

Competing as an Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA), Mariya Lasitskene won gold in the high jump event at this year's Olympics.

She also won gold at the Diamond League – jumping a world-leading 2.05m in Zurich.

Mariya Lasitskene

Sydney McLaughlin, USA

Sydney McLaughlin won her first ever Olympic gold medal this summer, and then added another to her tally for good measure.

The 22-year-old came out on top in the 400m hurdles and helped the USA win gold in the 4x400m relay.

McLaughlin's time of 51.46 seconds in the 400m hurdles final set a new Olympic and world record.

Sydney McLaughlin

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Bahamas

Shaunae Miller-Uibo held her title of Olympic 400m champion at this year's Games. After winning her first gold in 2016, the 27-year-old beat the USA's Allyson Felix and Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in the 2020 final to retain her crown.

She set a new North American record of 48.36 seconds in the 400m final.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo

Athing Mu, USA

At just 19 years of age, rising star Athing Mu set the Olympic stage alight this summer.

The teen won gold in the 800m event and ran alongside Sydney McLaughlin to help the USA win gold in the 4x400m relay.

Mu also set a new U20 indoor 800m world record and set North American U20 records at 400m and 800m.

Athing Mu

Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela

Venezuela's field star finally got her hands on gold in the Olympic triple jump event. After winning silver at Rio 2016, Yulimar Rojas came out on top in Tokyo and set a new world record of 15.67m with her first jump in the process.

She was also successful in the Diamond League, taking home another gold medal for her cabinet.

Yulimar Rojas

Elaine Thompson-Herah, Jamaica

Jamaican superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah has had an incredible 2021. 

As well as winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the Tokyo Olympics, Thompson-Herah became the fastest woman alive after recording a 100m time of 10.54. 

Her Diamond League gold medal finish makes her the second fastest woman in history – only the late Florence Griffith-Joyner has ever recorded a faster time than the Jamaican. 

Elaine Thompson-Herah

A three-way voting process involving The World Athletics Council, the World Athletics Family, and fans will determine the winner at the awards ceremony in December.