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MONTE CARLO, Monaco, Nov. 24-- Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam were respectively named Male and Female Athlete of the Year here on Friday, while retired sprinting legend Usain Bolt of Jamaica received the IAAF President's Award. 26-year-old Barshim showed his consistency as he remained unbeaten in 11 competitions in 2017. He won at the World Championships with a jump of 2.35m on his first attempt, before clearing a world-leading 2.40m in Birmingham. He also claimed the IAAF Diamond League title in Zurich at 2.36m. Barshim is the the first high jumper in history to leap 2.40m or higher in five successive years. He beat Britain's long distance runner Mo Farah and South Africa's 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk for the award. "This year everything was fine. I had no injuries, and could play confidently for the World Championships," explained Barshim for his dominant performance throughout the year. Thiam continued her step towards an athletics star. She was the recipient of last year's Female Rising Star Award, and currently the Female Athlete of the Year. The Belgian clinched the heptathlon champion at the worlds with a score of 6784 points. She overshadowed Ethiopian 10000m world champion Almaz Ayana and Greece's Ekaterini Stefanidi, who tasted the pole vault gold at the World Championships. "Just do in your own way, have fun and work hard to reach your goal," Thiam shared her thoughts with young athletes. | 
