Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson were voted Jamaica’s best Sportsman and Sportswoman of 2016 to walk away from the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel with the RJR Sports Foundation National Awards on Friday night (January 13).
“Hard work pays off so if you want to be great, work towards what you want, never give up,” said Bolt in his thank you speech.
Bolt completed the triple treble at last summer’s Rio Olympic Games by taking gold medals in the men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m. He joined boxer Michael McCallum with the most wins at these awards.
“I have gone through a lot but I have never given up once, use me as an example to work to be the best you can be,” Bolt also said.
Omar McLeod, who won the Rio Olympic Games 110m hurdles and World Indoor 60mh title in 2016, was the runner up.
Thompson, who became the first Caribbean woman to win the sprint double at the Olympic Games, received her first ever title.
“Im very happy,” Thompson said while praising her coach Stephen Francis for “motivating, believing and investing his time in me.” She also thanked the fans for their “invaluable support”
Calabar’s 17-year-old schoolboy Taylor was voted the People’s Choice Performance of the Year winner. Taylor had a well-timed anchor leg run, which led his team to a win in the 4x400m Open relay at Champs 2016.
Francis, who wasn’t present, was the Sagicor Iconic Award winner.
Mike Fennell, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president and Chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation selection committee, was presented with the Global Lifetime Achievement award for his years of service to sports administration.
