Race walker Takayuki Tanii was named Japan Association of Athletics Federations athlete of the year on Wednesday.
Tanii finished third in the men's 50km walk in Beijing last August to become the first Japanese to win a World Championships race walking medal, reports Xinhua.
Hakim Sani Brown, 16, was named men's rookie of the year after winning both the 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships in July.
