'Sprint King' Bolt scoops record sixth IAAF Athlete of Year award

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who is set to retire after the World Championships in London next year, has been named the IAAF Male World Athlete of the Year, thereby lifting the coveted prize for a record sixth time.

The 30-year-old, who won the award five times between 2008 and 2013, was announced as the winner at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2016 at the Sporting Monte Carlo here last evening.

Usain recently created an unprecedented record, a triple treble by bagging gold in 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay for the third successive Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Sprint King, who also won gold in all three relays in Beijing 2008 and London Olympics 2012, bid farewell to Olympics with nine sprints Gold medals to his name.

He also went undefeated throughout the season at all distances, including heats.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana picked up the female award after a record-breaking year.

After recording the fastest 10,000m debut in history in June, the Ethiopian went on to win the Olympic title at the distance in a world record of 29:17.45.

She added to her Olympic medal haul in Rio by taking bronze in the 5000m, her only loss of the year. Having recorded three of the eight fastest times at 5000m, she ended the year as the Diamond Race winner for that discipline.

She also became the third Ethiopian woman to win this award.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe presented the trophy to Bolt, while International Athletics Foundation (IAF) honorary president HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the trophy to Ayana.