The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Usain Bolt and Isinbayeva bag awards

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Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
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Usain Bolt and Isinbayeva bag awards

Monte Carlo: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards on Sunday.

Bolt set World records in the 100 and 200m at Beijing Games in August, and his third gold came in Jamaica’s 4x100m relay, also a world record.

Isinbayeva successfully defended her Olympic title and remained undefeated in outdoor competitions in 2008.

Bolt will be remembered for his archer-like signature victory pose and for running 9.69s in the 100m final to break the world record mark despite easing off 15 meters from the finish line and beating his chest in joy.

By contrast, the Jamaican had to run to the line to beat Michael Johnson’s 200m mark by two hundredths of a second, crossing in 19.30.

Isinbayeva cleared 5.05m in Beijing to set her 24th career world record and retain the Olympic title. “He is invincible,” said IAAF president Lamine Diack when asked to describe Jamaican sensation Bolt who became the third sprinter in succession to win the best athlete award. — AP

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