Triple world and Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt has been named in the final shortlist for 2016 men’s athlete of the year.
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) confirmed that the Jamaican sprinter star will slug it out with 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion, Mo Farah and South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk who the 400m gold at the Rio Olympics.
Bolt, a five-time former winner of the award, became the first person to win three consecutive 100 and 200 meters Olympic golds in Rio de Janeiro in August.
He also holds the world records in the two disciplines, 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively.
In the women category, Rio Olympics 10,000m champion, Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia will battle for the top prize with Rio 100m queen, Elaine Thompson of Jamaica and double Olympics hammer throw champion, Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland.
Thompson matched Bolt’s feat by also winning the 100m and 200m golds in Rio.
Ayana broke a 23-year-old record to win the 10,000 meters after clocking 29:18.45 at the Rio Games where she also took the bronze in 5,000 meters.
Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland also made the women’s list after retaining her hammer title in Rio.
The award is slated to hold on December 2 in Monaco, France.
