Usain Bolt bags IAAF Athlete of the Year for the sixth time

Usain Bolt bags IAAF Athlete of the Year for the sixth time

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Sprint legend Usain Bolt claimed an unprecedented sixth IAAF male Athlete of the Year award on Friday after completing his triple at the Rio Olympics in August. Ethiopian Almaz Ayana picked up the female award after her record-breaking 10,000m gold at the Rio Games.

Jamaica’s Bolt previously won the award in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and this year became the first athlete to bag the 'triple triple' at the Olympics after winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Rio.

“It's definitely a big deal,” 30-year-old Bolt said. "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,” he added.

Ethiopian runner Almaz Ayana, who had smashed the 10,000m world record in Rio by completing it in 29:17.45, won the award in the female category. The 25-year-old also won bronze in the 5000m event and the Diamond Race.

Canada's Andre de Grasse, who won 200m silver and 100m bronze in Rio, was named male rising star, while Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam won the award in the female category.

Harry Marra won the IAAF Coaching Achievement Award after guiding Ashton Eaton to a second Olympic decathlon gold and Brianne Theisen Eaton to heptathlon bronze.

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