Kingston : Jamaica`s sportsman of the year 2012, Usain Bolt, says he is not tired of receiving awards since they are a reflection of the hard work he put into preparing for competition.
The only man to win successive sprint doubles at the Olympic Games, Bolt was commenting after receiving the coveted RJR Sports Foundation Sportsman of the Year.
Bolt, the 2012 IAAF Diamond League 100m winner, won ahead of training partner Blake while sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was awarded the Sportswoman of the Year title.
"It makes you feel good because the hard work has not gone in vain. So, for me, it`s always a pleasure winning all these awards."
Bolt`s 2012 awards includes the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association Golden Cleats Award, the AIPS Sportsman of the Year award and the US Sports Academy Athlete of the Year award.
"One of the awards I really appreciated was the one from Argentina because I actually beat out Messi, so that was cool," said the big Jamaican.
He was referring to a 2009 poll for the best Caribbean and Latin American sportsman, which he won ahead of the popular Argentine footballer.
IANS
First Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 18:32