Lagos -The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), on Tuesday announced that Jamaica’s Usain Bolt had been listed first for the men’s category of Athlete of the Year award.
An online portal, the insidegames, said that the six-time Olympics champion defended his 100m and 200m titles at the World Championships in Beijing.
It said that Bolt amassed the highest vote in sprinting category.
The portal added that the athlete, widely regarded as the best in history, came into the event in the Chinese capital with doping cheat, Justin Gatlin of the US, and snatched the titles.
It added that reigning women’s world 200m champion, Dafne Schippers of Netherlands, was also nominated for the women’s award following a successful year, which included a silver medal in 100m in Beijing.
According to the portal, the IAAF family, which includes IAAF Council members, Member Federations, IAAF Committee and Commission members, selected nine men and nine women for the awards list.
It said that athletes were selected in nine categories of sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance, road running, race walking, jumps.
Others are throws, combined events and multi-terrain with more nominees set to be confirmed over the coming days.
It disclosed that the nomination would be whittled down to three men and three women, which would be selected by a list of experts comprising representatives from the six continents.
The awards would be presented at the IAAF’s World Athletics Gala in Monaco on Nov. 28.
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It recalled that Bolt had already won the men’s prize five times while New Zealand’s shot putter, Valerie Adams, won the 2014 women’s award. (NAN)