The sprint sensation from Jamaica Usain Bolt has been adjudged the International Association of Athletic Federations IAAF World Athlete of the Year, for the record six times during his illuminating career.
Bolt, who won the first IAAF Award Athletics Award in 2008, received the 2016 Athletics Award at the Sporting Monte Carlo, before enthralling the audience with his wit.
“It’s definitely a big deal. 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 the sixth year means as much as the first one,” Usain Bolt said.
Bolt bagged the IAAF Award in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The 30-year-old is going to retire following the World Athletics Championships, 2017, in London.
In Rio de Janeiro, while making it huge in his life, Bolt won gold in 100, 200 and 4×100 metres relay for the third successful Olympic Games.
The nine-time Olympic champion, Bolt remained unbeatable in all-distance covered races including heats throughout the season.
Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia’s who broke the 10,000metres World Record to win Olympic gold by around 14 seconds in Rio this year, was named as the female World Athlete of the Year for 2016.
The 25-year-old athlete became the third woman from Ethiopia to receive this coveted prize.