BARCELONA, Nov 24: Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix were named the International Amateur Athletics Federation’s athletes of the year on Saturday.

Jamaican sprinter Bolt won three gold medals at the London Olympics in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay, replicating the feat he accomplished at Beijing four years previously to win the award for the fourth time, his previous titles coming in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Bolt, 26, came up first against Olympic champions and world record holders David Rudisha of Kenya (800m) and American Aries Merritt (110m hurdles).

US sprinter Felix also won three golds in London in the 200m and in both the women’s relay races to get the women’s award ahead of Olympic champions Jessica Ennis of Britain (heptathlon) and Valerie Adams of New Zealand (shot put).

It is the first time she has won the accolade, succeeding Australian hurdler Sally Pearson who took it last year.—Agencies