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king Usain Bolt won an unprecedented sixth IAAF male Athlete of the
Year award on Friday, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana picked up the female award
after her record-setting 10,000m gold in Rio.
"I live for the moments I walk into the stadium," said Bolt, who will reportedly retire next year. "I love competing, I dream of being in the stadium competing against the best.
Bolt, winner in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, was rewarded for another blistering season that saw him claim three gold medals (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) at the Rio Olympics for the third consecutive Games.
The 30-year-old dominated the 100m in 9.81sec and came back four days later with a 19.78sec victory in the 200m to secure a third straight Olympic title over both distances, a first.
Bolt then anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m in 37.27sec, the fourth fastest of all time. His 9.81sec gold medal-winning performance in Rio was the second fastest in the world, his 19.78sec in the 200m the third fastest.
Bolt ended his season unbeaten in six individual finals, having made history as the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic triples.
Bolt said of the award, "When you get to be athlete of the year it means that all the hard work has paid off, so if I can win it for a sixth year means as much as the first one."
In the female category, Almaz claimed the title after smashing the 10,000m world record in Rio.
"I live for the moments I walk into the stadium," said Bolt, who will reportedly retire next year. "I love competing, I dream of being in the stadium competing against the best.
Bolt, winner in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, was rewarded for another blistering season that saw him claim three gold medals (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) at the Rio Olympics for the third consecutive Games.
The 30-year-old dominated the 100m in 9.81sec and came back four days later with a 19.78sec victory in the 200m to secure a third straight Olympic title over both distances, a first.
Bolt then anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m in 37.27sec, the fourth fastest of all time. His 9.81sec gold medal-winning performance in Rio was the second fastest in the world, his 19.78sec in the 200m the third fastest.
Bolt ended his season unbeaten in six individual finals, having made history as the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic triples.
Bolt said of the award, "When you get to be athlete of the year it means that all the hard work has paid off, so if I can win it for a sixth year means as much as the first one."
In the female category, Almaz claimed the title after smashing the 10,000m world record in Rio.
