14 Dec 2012

Bolt and Williams named L'Equipe sports people of the year

6:08 am on 14 December 2012

The Jamaica sprinter Usain Bolt, who retained his three Olympic titles at the London Games, has been named sportsman of the year by French daily newspaper L'Equipe, while American tennis player Serena Williams took the women's prize.

Bolt had already received the main French sports award in 2008, after he won the 100 metres, the 200 and the 4x100 relay at the Beijing Olympics, and in 2009.

Williams, who finished the year third in the WTA rankings despite winning Wimbledon, singles and doubles gold at the Olympics and the US Open, took the women's award for the first time.

The Olympics were all important in the annual poll with judo heavyweight gold medallist Teddy Riner and 400 freestyle swimming champion Camille Muffat winning the gongs for French athletes.