McFadden's world record earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering her own women's T54 world record* in the 400 meters, Tatyana McFadden (Dagsboro, DE/USATF Mid-Atlantic) earned recognition as the 19th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2026.
One of the most recognized and decorated athletes in Paralympic history, McFadden added to her career haul of world records with a 50.05 clocking at Arbon, Switzerland, on May 14 to better the world T54 record of 50.46 that she set in the Swiss city last year. She also won the 100 in 15.57 and the 800 in 1:46.99.

McFadden, 37, has won more than 20 Paralympic medals, including eight golds, and multiple Para World Championships medals. In 2025 she received recognition as the winner of the 96th AAU Sullivan Award, given annually to "the nation's best athlete at the Olympic, Collegiate, or similar elite level." McFadden has also won 24 World Major Marathon titles, and did the Grand Slam (Boston, Chicago, New York, London in a single year) four years in a row.

Other top performances from last week:

• Masai Russell won the women's 100 hurdles at the Shaoxing Diamond League meet in a world-leading 12.25, the 10th fastest performance ever by an American.
• Madison Wiltrout won the women's javelin at the Halle Werfertage meet in Germany with a lifetime best of 63.83/209-5 and moved to No. 6 on the all-time U.S. performer list.
• Washington's Hana Moll won the women's pole vault at the Big 10 Championships, clearing 4.83/15-10 to set an outdoor collegiate record.
• Jamal Britt won the men's 110 hurdles at the Shaoxing Diamond League meet in 13.07 to equal his lifetime best.

* – all records are subject to verification by the World Para Athletics

Now in its 25th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2026 Winners: January 15, Jonathan Simms; January 22, Michelle Rohl; January 29, Josh Hoey; February 5, Roisin Willis; February 12, Jordan Geist; February 19, Cole Hocker; February 26, Cynthia McNamee; March 5, Chase Jackson; March 12, Lauren Harris; March 19, Garrett Kaalund; March 26, Cooper Lutkenhaus; April 2, Rudy Winkler; April 9, Max Thomas; April 16, Sam Mattis; April 23, Tahmar Upshaw; April 30, Kaitlin Bounds; May 7, Karissa Schweizer; May 14, Anna Cockrell; May 21, Tatyana McFadden.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

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PHOTO BY: Tobias Lackner