Bolt, Thompson nominated for Laureus awards

LONDON (CMC):

Track & field legend Usain Bolt and compatriot Elaine Thompson were among nominees for the prestigious Laureus World Sports awards.

Bolt has been nominated for the World Sportsman of the Year and Thompson has made the cut for the World Sportswoman of the Year.

Bolt, a three-time winner of the World Sportsman of the Year award, successfully defended his Olympic 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100m relay titles to leave Rio as one of the biggest heroes of the 2016 Olympic Games.

The 30-year-old Jamaican previously won the award in 2009, 2010 and 2013 - and faces a stiff challenge to collect it again.

Rio Olympics 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion Mo Farah and tennis gold medal winner Andy Murray have been shortlisted, along with football megastar Ronaldo and NBA basketball superstars Lebron James and Stephen Curry.

Thompson is one of six Olympic champions nominated for Sportswoman of the Year award. The 24-year-old Jamaican became a household name, following her commanding sprint-double capture of the 100 and 200 titles in Rio. It is her first nomination for the award.

The contest for the Sportswoman of the Year award also promises to be very competitive. Challenging her are a trio of Americans - gymnast Simone Biles, swimmer Katie Ledecky and quarter-mile silver medallist Allyson Felix - as well as world tennis number one Angelique Kerber of Germany and British cyclist Laura Kenny.