LONDON, CMC – Usain Bolt and training partner, compatriot Yohan Blake have been nominated for two the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Jamaican megastar sprinter Bolt has been nominated for the World Sportsman-of-the-Year with tennis star Novak Djokovic, Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi, Dallas Mavericks’ Germany-born centre Dirk Nowitzki, Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel, and Tour de France winner, cyclist Cadel Evans.
“After the year I had and ended undefeated, this nomination is even more special to me,” said Bolt. “This award is a prestigious one and I am honoured to be among the best.”
Bolt won two gold medals in the men’s 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay at the World Championships last August in Daegu, South Korea, following his stunning false start in the marquee 100 won by Blake.
On the occasions when he got his start right, which was every other race for the season, the 22-year-old Bolt, the World record holder in the 100 and 200, also raced undefeated. Bolt is a two-time winner of the World Sportsman-of-the-Year award in 2008 and 2009, following outstanding performances at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, in those respective years when he rewrote the record books.
The 21-year-old Blake grabbed a nomination for the Breakthrough-of-the-Year award alongside
Double amputee quarter-miler Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, British runner Mo Farah, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, and tennis players Li Na and Petra Kvitova.
After winning the World 100 title following Bolt’s disqualification for a false start in the Final. He was virtually unstoppable in the later stages of the season, after his success in Daegu.
At the IAAF Diamond League meet in Zurich, Blake beat compatriot Asafa Powell in the 100 with a personal best of 9.82 seconds.
