Both Jamaicans. I think its a first.
100,000 the richer, Powell and Richards are the World Athletes of the
Year
Sunday 12 November 2006


Monte-Carlo - Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Sanya Richards of the USA
have been awarded the titles of 2006 World Athletes of the Year along
with a cheque for $100,000 each at the prestigious 2006 World
Athletics Gala in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d'Eté,
Monte-Carlo, Sunday 12 November.

Tonight's edition of the annual global awards ceremony for Athletics
was hosted by International Athletic Foundation (IAF) Honorary
President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and IAF & IAAF President
Lamine Diack, in the presence of 600 distinguished guests from all
branches of the athletics family.



World Athletics Gala 2006 logo
(IAF)


Both Powell and Richards are IAAF Overall World Ranked number ones,
and this season won shares of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot. Powell
sped to a record (12) sub-10 second clockings for 100m including
twice equalling his own World record (9.77), while Richards took 15
straight victories at 400m including breaking the 22-year-old
American record with 48.70 to become the seventh fastest woman of all-
time.

On receiving the award:

Asafa Powell, the 2006 Male World Athlete of the Year commented:

"Last year I wanted to win this title but I didn't because I got
injured. This year I worked hard and I'm thankful to get this award.
It is a major accomplishment to realize that people recognize the
hard work that I put in the sport and they actually vote for me. Next
year, I'll work even harder and hopefully win the World title."

"Zürich is definitely the best memory of my 2006 season. It's a race
that I won't forget. Brussels is also another good moment, I know it
would have been another World record if I hadn't had such a bad
start."


Sanya Richards, the 2006 Female World Athlete of the Year commented:

"I was so excited when I found out that I was the Athlete of the
Year. This is more than just the icing on the cake."

"My two favourite memories of the year are when I broke the American
record at the very last meeting of the season. I actually thought it
wasn't going to happen this year. And my second best memory was in
Berlin when I won the race and managed to remain undefeated in the
whole 6 meetings of the Golden League."

The other awards presented this evening were as follows:


Performance of the Year

Liu Xiang (CHN) for running 12.88 at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in
Lausanne to become the outright holder of the 110m Hurdles World
record

Meseret Defar (ETH) for breaking the 5000m World record in New York
City


Distinguished Career Award

Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR)
Stefka Kostadinova (BUL)
Jan Zelezny (CZE)

Rising Star Award

Margus Hunt (EST)

Coaches' Award

Woldemeskel Kostre (ETH)



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