China's star race walker Liu Hong was conferred with a commemorative medal at the annual World Athletics Awards in Monaco on Sunday. Liu became the first woman to break the four-hour barrier in 50 kilometers event as she cruised to a 3:59:15 victory to set the world record at the Chinese Race Walk Grand Prix in March. 

The 31-year-old is the first Chinese race walker in history to hold both 20 and 50 kilometers race walk world records.

She returned from a two-year-long maternity break in January. 

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge and the United States' Dalilah Muhammad have been named World Athletics' Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively.