Monaco - Jmaican male sprinter Usain Bolt is heading the list of nominees of the International Athletics Associations Federation (IAAF) to select the Athlete of the Year.

Usain Bolt, 9 times an Olympic Champion, appears as the strongest candidate to get the recognition this year, after he repeated his gold medal in the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in the 100, 200 and 4x100 flat meters, something he had done before in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Bolt is the recordman of the 100 (9.58 seconds), 200 (19.19) and wants to officially retire after the World Championship in London, which will be held from August 5 to 13, 2017.

Voting will start this week, to finish on November 1st, the day in which the three finalists in each category, will be let known to be awarded in December 2.

LIST OF NOMINEES:

Male Competitors:

-Usain Bolt (JAM)

-Thiago Braz (BRA)

-Ashton Eaton (USA)

-Mo Farah (GBR)

-Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)

-Conseslus Kipruto (KEN)

-Omar McLeod (JAM)

-David Rudisha (KEN)

-Christian Taylor (USA)

-Wayde Van Niekerk (SAR)

Female Competitors:

-Almas Ayana (ETH)

-Ruth Beitia (SPA)

-Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)

-Kendra Harrison (USA)

-Caterine Ibargüen (COL)

-Ruth Jebet (BRN)

-Sandra Perkovic (CRO)

-Caster Semenya (SAR)

-Elaine Thompson (JAM)

-Anita Wlodarczyk (POL)