Usain Bolt (left), Veronica Campbell-Brown (centre) and Melaine Walker pose with their Jamaican Sportsman of the Year awards (© SportingEagle Photo)
Since his heroics on the track at last summer's Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt has received many accolades, but the best was saved for last.
On Friday (13) night, the RJR Sports Foundation, presented Bolt, the world's fastest human with the Jamaican Sportsman of the Year 2008 crown.
Bolt, who witnessed Veronica Campbell-Brown, the Beijing 200m winner, and Melaine Walker, the 400m hurdles champion, sharing the Sportswoman title, gave this award the highest ratings.
"This is number one," said Bolt, who topped six other men, included Asafa Powell for the award. "It's Jamaica and as I said it's always good for your country to recognised in this way," he added.
Bolt, who had stunning runs of 9.69 (100m), 19.30 (200m) and helped Jamaica to the sprint relay gold medal in 37.10, all three world record marks, had earlier won the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year award; Jamaica's Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year; Track & Field News top athlete; The BBC Overseas Sports Personality award; Eurosport Sports Personality of 2008 and the International Sports Journalists award, among others.
"It feels good, it show with hardwork comes good things, so I hope I can do good to win again next year," he added.
Campbell-Brown, who repeated her Athens 200m success in Beijing, in a personal best 21.74sec, was happy to be selected once again.
"I appreciated this award", said Campbell-Brown, the 2004 and 2007 winner. "We are all winners, it was a great Olympic for all of us," added Campbell.
Walker, who won the Olympic 400m hurdles gold in a games record 52.64, was also grateful.
"It's a great feeling, because you know you are been recognised for your performance and hard work," said Walker, who was previously voted Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Female Athlete of the Year.
Meanwhile, Shelly-Ann Fraser, the first Jamaican woman to win the 100m title, collected the People's Choice Award, a decision made by the Jamaican public.
Bolt and Walker were the category winners for Track & Field while members of Jamaica's historic 4x100m relay team were also recognised.
The sprint trio of Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who was not in attendance, were also awarded for their 1-2-2 finish in the women's 100m.
Members of the women's mile relay team, which finished third, also picked up awards.
Anthony Foster for the IAAF