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| Prince Albert II of Monaco, Russian pole vaulter and female World Athlete of the Year Yelena Isinbayeva, Jamaican triple-Olympic medalist Usain Bolt and IAAF President Lamine Diack at the IAAF World Athletics Gala where the Caribbean sprint star took the title of male World Athlete of the Year. | |
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, November 24, 2008 - Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt has been named male World Athlete of the Year.
The Olympic triple medalist was declared the winner of this year's award last night, when Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva also beat out his compatriots Veronica Campbell-Brown and Melaine Walker to take the award for female World Athlete of the Year. It was the third time for her, after also taking the title in 2004 and 2005.
A dapper Bolt, who captivated the attention of the sporting world with his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold medals, each with a World record performance said he felt very honoured.
"I have a motto that anything is possible. But this really is such an honour," he said. "Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I'll try to do it year after year."
He received US$100,000 along with the trophy.
Cuba's Dayron Robles, who took the gold in the men's 110-metres hurdles at the Olympics, also received an award for Male Performance of the Year.
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