Usain Bolt is Male World Athlete of the Year 2008

Jamaican sprinting sensation Usain Bolt walked away with the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award today during the celebrations of the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco. Bolt set blistering world records in the 100 metres, lowering his own mark and 200 meters, beating Micheal Johnson’s old mark at the Beijing Games in August, and his third gold medal came in Jamaica’s 4×100 relay, also a world record with team mates Asafa Powell, Nester Carter and Micheal Frater.

usain bolt and yelena isinbayeva
Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva – Male and Female IAAF World Athletes of the Year

In accepted his award Bolt’s comments were: “I have a motto that anything is possible. But this really is such an honour. Just to be included with every great name in the sport is wonderful. I’ll try to do it year after year.”

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva also walked away with the female IAAF World Athlete of the Year award. Isinbayeva successfully defended her Olympic title, raised her own world record multiple times throughout the season and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions in all of 2008.

Usain also received Special Olympic Award for his performances during the games but lost out to Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles for the male performance of the year award.

2008 World Athletics Gala