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KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says Jamaica is ecstatic at the historic double victory by sprinters, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who have captured the IAAF World Athletes of the Year.
In congratulating both athletes for this ‘clean sweep’, the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Sport said “this latest outstanding accomplishment by our athletes serves to further cement Jamaica’s top ranking and extraordinary position in the world of track and field athletics, and is another crowning glory for our small nation. All Jamaica is proud of this accomplishment.”
“This is an outstanding and spectacular achievement which encapsulates the brilliance, depth and dominance of our athletes and serves to demonstrate once again that not only have we taken on the world in track and field athletics but we are succeeding at it”, the Prime Minister said, adding that “this latest accomplishment by Bolt and Fraser-Pryce can only serve to strengthen our already rich and vibrant history of success in the sport.”
Bolt finished ahead of British runner, Mo Farah, and high jumper, Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine. The other women’s nominees were world champion shot-putter Valerie Adams of New Zealand, and world hurdles champion, Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic.
Jamaica is the first country in the region and the third in the world to have captured the IAAF accolade. Bolt received the IAAF award for the fifth time, while Fraser-Pryce was earning the award for the first time.
