The 2025 sporting calendar offered no shortage of spectacular feats. Yet, among the multitude of world-class performers, a select few stood out for redefining the competitive landscape of their respective disciplines and making an overall significant contribution to the sport. Without further ado, we present our toplist of the World’s Best Male Athletes in 2025.
10. Mykolas Alekna
Despite being around for only four seasons on the senior scene, Mykolas Alekna has established himself as one of the dominant figures in Discus throw history. The Olympic Silver medallist charged to a terrific entrance by bettering his World Record (WR) set last year in his second competition of the season, throwing a monstrous 75.56m at the Ramona Meet. To indicate how extraordinary his performance was, the Lithuanian’s second best throw of 74.89m at the meet also surpassed his previous WR of 74.35m.
Representing California University, he qualified for the NCAA Championships after winning the West Regionals in 72.70m. He eventually placed 2nd at the former competition with a best throw of 66.77m. After that, Alkena went on to pick up significant wins in the international circuit: Eugene Diamond League (70.97m), London Diamond League (71.70m), and the Zurich Diamond League final (68.89m)
In spite of the harsh weather conditions faced during the Discus throw final at the World Championships in Tokyo, the WR holder was still able to put up a strong show by clinching the Silver medal, an upgrade from the last edition where he took Bronze.
9. Busang Collen Kebinatshipi
Botswana’s newly crowned Prince had one of the most outstanding moments this season. The youngster who had yet to win an individual event at any international competition, took the world by surprise at the World Championships. Kebinatshipi’s first international competition in 2025 was the Grand Slam Track where he placed 6th in the 400m in 45.15s.
He replicated 3rd place finishes at the Xiamen and Kezqiao Diamond Leagues respectively. A month later, he placed 3rd once again but in an improved Season’s Best (SB) of 44.51s at the Rome Diamond League. At his final competition before the Worlds, the Motswana finished 7th in 45.40s at the Zurich Diamond League final, which didn’t project him as a top contender or an underdog in the lead up to the Championships.
Kebinatshipi defied all odds by going sub-44s twice for the first ever, breaking his country’s National Record (NR) in the semis (43.61s) and final (43.53s), which ultimately earned him the GOLD medal, becoming his country’s first male World Champion, following in the footsteps of his countrywoman Amantle Montsho who achieved a similar feat in the women’s 400m in 2011.
Kebinatshipi came from behind to anchor his teammates to victory in the men’s 4x400m final, capping his memorable outing with two GOLD medals and being the 10th fastest man of all time.
8. Ethan Katzberg
After having a stellar performance last season, Ethan Katzberg continued in his winning ways, extending his dominance to three consecutive seasons. The Canadian got the ball rolling by winning the Kip Keino Classics in Nairobi with a gigantic World Lead (WL) of 82.73m. He went on to win the Oslo Diamond League in 80.19m, followed by three consecutive 2nd place finishes at the Eugene Diamond League in 81.73m, Gyulai Istvan Memorial (81.88m), and Chorzow Diamond League (79.30m).
Entering the World Championships as the reigning Olympic and World Champion, Katzberg was hoping to be the first Canadian to defend a World title, and also the first reigning Olympic champion Hammer thrower to win a World title at a post Olympic year since Primož Kozmus in 2009.
During the final, Katzberg saw his opening throw of 82.33m put him in 2nd place, but not for long as he roared to a new Championship Record (CR) of 84.70m, bettering the previous record that had stood since 2007 by 1.07m. In addition, his throw was the longest in two decades, making him the fifth farthest thrower on the all-time list.
7. Rai Benjamin
From being labelled a Sliver Surfer to becoming a GOLD magnet, Rai Benjamin has lived up to his potential in the past two seasons. The reigning Olympic Champion powered to a huge WL of 46.57 at the Stockholm Diamond League. He replicated his performance five days later at the Paris Diamond League, coasting to victory in another sub-47 (46.93s). Benjamin placed 2nd at the Eugene Diamond League with a time of 46.71s, then went on to win the US Trials with a fast of 46.89s.
The American won his first World title in Tokyo in dramatic fashion as he initially got disqualified after crossing the finish line ahead of rivals Alison dos Santos and Abderrahman Samba with a time of 46.52s. However, he later got reinstated after an appeal and subsequently anchored the US team to a Silver medal in the men’s 4x400m.
6. Leo Neugebauer
Following a ground-breaking season last year that saw him smash multiple records and win medals, Leo Neugebauer got to upgrade his Silver from the Olympics to a GOLD at the World Championships in Tokyo. The German who graduated from the University of Texas, had a more relaxed schedule after skipping the heptathlon during the indoor season.
Outdoors, he competed at two meets: the Hypo Meeting in Gotzis where he came 5th in 8555points, and the German Championships where he registered a Did Not Finish (DNF) after not recording heights in the High Jump and Pole Vault, and another DNF in the 400m. At the World Championships, Neugebauer ended the first day of competition sitting in 3rd place after five events.
However, World Leader Sander Skotheim got disqualified after a costly error in the 110m Hurdles, leaving the door open for other contenders. The 6ft7 figure capitalized on that and surpassed his other rivals on the second day of competition in an intense battle, winning the title in a Season’s Best (SB) of 8804, and by a margin of 20 points – the narrowest in World Championships history, breaking Roman Serble’s 32-point margin victory from 2007.
