Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Sally Pearson of Australia were named the IAAF World Athletes of the Year for 2011 at the 2011 World Athletics Gala held in Monte Carlo yesterday.
Bolt, 25, holder of 100m and 200m world records, who despite being penalised for disqualification due to a false start in defending his 100m world title in Daegu last August, holds a string of achievements including successfully defended his 200m world title in 19.40, 2nd fastest of the year and anchored his Jamaican team to a new world record of 37.04 in the 4x100m relay in Daegu, he is also the world leader in 100m, clocking the fastest time of the year 2011 at 9.76 in Brussels on 16 September.
This is the 3rd title for the fastest man on earth, equalising the record of Moroccan great middle distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj who won this honour 3 times in a row from 2001
Sally Pearson, also 25, World champion in 100m hurdles at 12.28, 4th fastest all time, has been dominating the event this year, winning ten out of her 11 outings while producing 7 of the 11 world leading times of the season.
This is the 1st time she won this glorious trophy on her 1st time being nominated.
Other award winners:
Performance of the Year :
Men – Yohan Blake (JAM) - 200m 19.26 - 2nd fastest in history, Brussels 16 September
Women – Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 5000m and 10,000m double World Champion
Rising Stars :
Men – Kirani James (GRN), 400m World champion
Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award :
John Velzian (KEN)
Journalist Lifetime achievement award :
Alain Billouin (FRA)
World Athletics City Award :
Daegu, South Korea
Ref. IAAF
List of winners:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAAF_Athlete_of_the_Year