Moscow — News Time

Usain Bolt

Bolt won gold in the 100 metres, 200 and 4×100 relay at the Moscow worlds in August to take his all-time tally to eight golds and two silvers at the championships, making him the most successful athlete in their history. He won the same three races at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and 2009 worlds.

He beat off strong competition from British distance runner Mo Farah, who followed up on his 5,000-10,000m double at the London Olympics with two golds at the Moscow worlds, and world high jump champion Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine.

The sole consolation for Farah was that his coach Alberto Salazar won the IAAF’s coaching achievement award.

The Cuban-born American has guided the career of Farah as the Somali-born Briton stormed to a famous distance double-double.

“It’s always an honour to be recognized by the IAAF and the fans as the athlete of the year,” Bolt said. “I just focus on doing great things, and staying focused is hard to do.”

The 27-year-old, who also has six Olympic gold medals and holds the 100 and 200 metres world records, won the IAAF award for the third season in a row and the fifth time in six years.

Bolt also won 10 out of his 11 100m races (including heats), and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m.

“This season will be the one to go for the [200m] world record,” said Bolt, hinting that a time below 19 seconds was the target. His current world record is 19.19 seconds.

Compatriot Fraser-Pryce claimed gold medals in the same three events in Moscow, having previously won two golds and two silvers, and is also the Olympic sprint champion.

She regained her 100m title at those world champs, her winning time of 10.71sec the fastest of the year, and also had the year’s best 200 time, clocking 22.13 at the Jamaican championships in June.

The 26-year-old collected her first female World Athlete of the Year award, and it was also the first time since Britain’s successes in 1993 that two athletes from the same country have won the awards in the same year.

The other women’s nominees were world champion shot-putter Valerie Adams of New Zealand, and world hurdles champion Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic.

“I’m shocked and excited. It’s something that has been a dream of mine,” said Fraser-Pryce, who becomes the second Jamaican woman to win the award after Merlene Ottey in 1990. “Hard work is something that comes without saying for us to achieve the things we want.”