Double London 2012 gold medalists Usain Bolt and Mo Farah are among the Olympic track and field stars nominated Tuesday for the World Athlete of the Year Award.
The sport’s governing body, the IAAF, announced 10 nominees for each of the men’s and women’s categories, with every one of them having won gold in London.
In addition to 100 and 200 meter winner Bolt and endurance champion Farah, the men’s list includes David Rudisha, who shattered the 800m world record in the final in London.
If Bolt wins, it would be the fourth time he has won the award in five years, while Rudisha could regain the title he won in 2010.
American runner Allyson Felix takes her place among the nominees for the women’s award after becoming the first female track athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympics since 1988.
Australian hurdler Sally Pearson could retain the award she won last year, while American runner Sanya Richards-Ross was Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2009.
Eight of the athletes are world record holders in a total of 10 events.
The United States accounts for six of the 20 athletes nominated, while three Jamaicans made the lists.
The nominees:
Men’s award
- Yohan Blake (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 1x400m relay, silver, 100m and 200m. World record holder, 100m, 200m, 4x100m.
- Usain Bolt (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 100m, 200m, 1x400m relay. World record holder, 4x100m.
- Ashton Eaten (United States) - London 2012 gold, decathlon. World record holder, decathlon.
- Mo Farah (Britain) - London 2012 gold, 5,000m and 10,000m.
- Robert Harting (Germany) - London 2012 gold, discus.
- Kirani James (Grenada) - London 2012 gold, 400m.
- Renaud Lavillenie (France) - London 2012 gold, pole vault.
- Aries Merritt (United States) - London 2012 gold, 110m hurdles. World record holder, 110m hurdles.
- David Rudisha (Kenya) - London 2012 gold, 800m.
- Christian Taylor (United States) - London 2012 gold, triple jump.
Women’s award
- Valerie Adams (New Zealand) - London 2012 gold, shot put.
- Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) - London 2012 gold, 10,000m. World record holder, 5,000m, 15 kilometer run.
- Jessica Ennis (Britain) - London 2012 gold, heptathlon.
- Allyson Felix (United States) - London 2012 gold, 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay. World record holder, 4x100m relay.
- Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 100m.
- Yelena Lashmanova (Russia) - London 2012 gold, 20km walk. World record holder, 20km walk.
- Sally Pearson (Australia) - London 2012 gold, 100m hurdles.
- Brittney Reese (United States) - London 2012 gold, long jump.
- Sanya Richards-Ross (United States) - London 2012 gold, 400m, 4x400m relay.
- Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) - London 2012 gold, javelin. World record holder, javelin.
The nominees:
Men’s award
- Yohan Blake (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 1x400m relay, silver, 100m and 200m. World record holder, 100m, 200m, 4x100m.
- Usain Bolt (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 100m, 200m, 1x400m relay. World record holder, 4x100m.
- Ashton Eaten (United States) - London 2012 gold, decathlon. World record holder, decathlon.
- Mo Farah (Britain) - London 2012 gold, 5,000m and 10,000m.
- Robert Harting (Germany) - London 2012 gold, discus.
- Kirani James (Grenada) - London 2012 gold, 400m.
- Renaud Lavillenie (France) - London 2012 gold, pole vault.
- Aries Merritt (United States) - London 2012 gold, 110m hurdles. World record holder, 110m hurdles.
- David Rudisha (Kenya) - London 2012 gold, 800m.
- Christian Taylor (United States) - London 2012 gold, triple jump.
Women’s award
- Valerie Adams (New Zealand) - London 2012 gold, shot put.
- Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) - London 2012 gold, 10,000m. World record holder, 5,000m, 15 kilometer run.
- Jessica Ennis (Britain) - London 2012 gold, heptathlon.
- Allyson Felix (United States) - London 2012 gold, 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay. World record holder, 4x100m relay.
- Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) - London 2012 gold, 100m.
- Yelena Lashmanova (Russia) - London 2012 gold, 20km walk. World record holder, 20km walk.
- Sally Pearson (Australia) - London 2012 gold, 100m hurdles.
- Brittney Reese (United States) - London 2012 gold, long jump.
- Sanya Richards-Ross (United States) - London 2012 gold, 400m, 4x400m relay.
- Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) - London 2012 gold, javelin. World record holder, javelin.
