News Americas, BARCELONA, Spain, Sat. Nov. 24, 2012: The Caribbean was definitely in the spotlight at the IAAF Centenary Gala Show this weekend in Spain as not just Usain Bolt but three other Caribbean nationals were awarded.
The night which was hosted by International Athletic Foundation (IAF) & IAAF President Lamine Diack and IAF Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, saw Jamaican sprinter and the world’s fastest man, Usain St. Leo Bolt, being presented with the award of Male Athlete of the Year.
Bolt, who won the award for the fourth time, received his trophy and US$100,000 prize at the Athletes of the Year Awards Ceremony t in the Grand Ballroom of the Pullman Skipper Hotel, ahead of the IAAF Centenary Gala Show in the MNAC Museum.
The awards were hosted by International Athletic Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President Lamine Diack, who presented the trophies to Bolt as well as the Female Athlete of the Year, Allyson Felix of the U.S.
Usain Bolt, 26, the World Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2011, successfully defended both his 100m and 200m titles at the Olympic Games in London, clocking 9.63 and 19.32 respectively, both the fastest times in the World this year. He concluded his Olympic appearance by anchoring a Jamaican quartet to a 36.84 World record in the 4x100m Relay. He won six out of seven competitions in the 100m, and three of four in the 200m.
“This means a lot to me as this was one of my hardest years,” said Bolt. “My coach doesn’t want us to discuss injuries, so I didn’t talk about it, so this means a lot.”
Allyson Felix, 27, following World 200m titles in 2005, 2007 and 2009, won the Olympic 200m title in London and was part of the gold medal-winning 4x100m and 4x400m Relay teams to become the first woman since 1988 to win three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. The victorious 4x100m Relay quartet in London clocked a 40.82 World record. Her 21.69 victory in the 200m at the U.S. Olympic Trials was the fastest in the world this year and made Felix the fourth fastest woman in history.
Meanwhile, the Male Rising Star Award was presented to Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad. Walcott 19, produced one of the biggest upsets at the Olympic Games with his shock victory in the Javelin Throw. With a national record throw of 84.58m, he became only the second athlete to win both World Junior and Olympic titles in the same year.
“This has been a fantastic year,” said Walcott. “Back in January, my only target was winning at the World Juniors Championships. I thought I would win an Olympic medal one day, but not so soon. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe everything that has happened.”
The Female Rising Star Winner was Antonique Strachan of the Bahamas.
Strachan, 19, became the first woman in six years to win the 100m/200m sprint double at the World Junior Championships. Both her 11.20 and 22.53 performances were personal bests – the latter an Area Junior record – and she later reached the Olympic semi-finals.
“I’m stunned,” the teenager said. “I didn’t know anything about getting the Award. I thought I had been invited here to Barcelona to watch and be inspired. Allyson Felix said that she got the Female Rising Athlete of Year nine years ago, so I now have as my target to emulate here and come back to the gala in nine years’ time and be the Female World Athlete of the Year.”
Meanwhile, the Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award went to Glen Mills of Jamaica.
Mills, 63, served as the Jamaican national coach from 1987 to 2009, having overseen athletes to 71 World championship and 33 Olympic medals. He currently oversees the Racers Track Club which includes World and Olympic champion and record holder Usain Bolt and 100m World champion Yohan Blake. Mills was named NACAC Coach of the Year in 2008.
