Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan has become the first Dutch sportswoman to be named World Athlete of the Year at a ceremony held by the sport’s governing body.

Hassan, 31, won a fans’ poll after taking the gold medal on the streets of Paris to clime her third Olympic title and sixth medal.

She was also named women’s out of stadium athlete of the year at World Athletics’ annual awards ceremony in Monaco.

I never thought I was going to win this one,” Hassan said. ‘This year was crazy. It’s not only me – all the athletes have been amazing. I’m really grateful. What more can I say?

She also called on the Dutch government to keep investing in sport to build on the success of Paris, where the Netherlands finished sixth in the overall medal table, ahead of the UK, Germany and Italy.

“As a country we need to invest in sport,” she told NOS. “Sport is good for everyone’s health, and if we invest in it we get athletes like me and Femke [Bol].”

The men’s overall title was won by Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, who won gold in the 200m in Paris in an African record time. Tebogo was also named male track athlete of the year.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who beat Femke Bol in the final of the 400m hurdles in Paris in a world record time, was voted women’s track athlete of the year. Voting took place between November 4 and 10.