Bolt headlines IAAF World Athlete of the Year shortlist
Usain Bolt headlines the list of male nominees for the 2016 IAAF World Athlete of the Year award.
Jamaican sprint icon Bolt completed an unprecedented ‘triple-triple’ by winning gold in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay for the third successive Olympic Games at Rio 2016.
The 30-year-old, set to retire after the World Championships in London next year, could take the accolade for the sixth time in his career on December 2.
Bolt will have to depose 2015 winner Ashton Eaton, who successfully defended his decathlon gold in Rio.
Other male Olympic champions on the 10-man shortlist include Mo Farah, David Rudisha, Wayde van Niekerk and Thiago Braz da Silva.
For the women’s award, two-time gold medallist Elaine Thompson will be among the frontrunners.
The Jamaican will hope to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who won the award in 2013 and with whom she took silver in the 4x100m relay in Rio.
Caster Semenya, Almaz Ayana and Anita Wlodraczyk will also be in the running having impressed at the Games.
