Ari Vatanen, TIME's Person of the Year 2025?

  • By Elizabeth Sy
  • Helsinki
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Ari Vatanen among finalists for TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year?
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According to a well-placed source, Ari Vatanen is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2025. But while the athlete's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.

UPDATE 23/12/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Why not Vatanen for Person of the Year?

The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 72-year-old athlete, as a 2025 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.

“What makes Vatanen so important is the potential and influence he now has, rather than anything he has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the athlete have already been named ‘Finnish Of The Year’ by some major Finnish newspapers and even ‘Tuupovaara Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Tuupovaara (Ari Vatanen's hometown).

Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year

A representative for the athlete was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:

“Ari Vatanen Named Person of the Year Is No ‘Surprise’.”
— @TheNewsEditor, 22 Dec 2024
“Great choice! Long overdue recognition for his talents. #LoveAri”
— @BarbaraHeyboer, 22 Dec 2024
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not Ari Vatanen?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 22 Dec 2024

Could 2025 officially be the Year of Ari Vatanen?

Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2025 Person of the Year.

Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2025?

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