Meet the women's athlete of the year...

Polish hammer thrower, Anita Wlodarczyk, who set a world record, has been voted women's athlete of the year by an American publication.

With a throw of 79.58 meters she improved the world record by 16 centimetres at the Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) Berlin Athletics meet at Berlin's Olympic stadium in Germany.

Anita Wlodarczyk is a two-time European champion. She had won silver medal in 2012 Olympic Games.

Aged 23 in 2008, Wlodarczyk went into 2009 with a PB of 72.80m. By the end of the year, she was the world champion and world record-holder.

New Zealand’s Valarie Adams, on the other hand, failed to win the title this year but was voted 2014's best women's shot-putter by Track and Field News, reported Stuff.co.nz.

Adams has been given the title for the ninth time by the magazine. She is now just one shy of breaking 1980s German long-jumper and sprinter Heike Drechsler's record who won the number one title 10 times.

Adams was never challenged in the sport event as she stormed through a perfect Diamond League season, the magazine said.

However, despite being unbeaten all season, taking seven Diamond League titles and a world indoor championship and Commonwealth title, she failed to attract votes and was subsequently named number two athlete overall.

Adams has been in the top 10 overall for six consecutive years.