Sport
Usain Bolt, Allyson Felix named IAAF World Athletes of the Year
Prince Albert of Monaco, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, US sprinter Allyson Felix and IAAF President Lamine Diack during an event marking the centenary of the IAAF, in Barcelona, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. PHOTO/Manu Fernandez/AP
Usain Bolt won the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time Saturday after defending his 100 and 200 meter gold medals at last summer’s Olympic Games in London.
The Jamaican sprinter, who beat out American hurdler Aries Merritt and Kenyan runner David Rudisha, had previously won the award in 2008, 2009, and 2011.
“For me this is a great honor to win a fourth time. I really worked hard and I was really focused this year. This season was one of my toughest. I had my ups and downs, even though we don’t like to talk about them,” said Bolt, who thanked his coach and the fans at the Olympics.
“The London games were magnificent. Fans were there in the stadium from 10 in the morning. I had never seen anything like that.”
Sprinter Allyson Felix of the United States took home the women’s award.
In 2003, Bolt and Felix won the Rising Star awards for the most promising young athletes of the year.
“Nine years ago I was here with Allyson, now I am back, that means I am getting old, which is slightly worrying,” said the 26-year-old Bolt. “But I will continue to work hard.”
