Usain Bolt was named the IAAF's male athlete of the year, with South Africa's Sally Pearson winning the women's award.

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Usain Bolt named male athlete of the year for the third time

Bolt won the 200m and relay gold at the world championships in Daegu

Bolt missed out on third gold when disqualified for false start in 100m final

Sally Pearson of Australia claims women's award from IAAF

CNN  — 

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt was named athlete of the year for the third time Saturday after his double world championship success in Daegu.

Australia’s Sally Pearson, the world 100m hurdles champion, took the women’s award at the ceremony in Monte Carlo.

Bolt was previously honored by the IAAF, the governing body of athletics, back in 2008 and 2009.

He suffered an injury-hit 2010 but returned to his best in 2011 as he defended his 200m global title and then helped Jamaica to win the 4x100m relay in a world record time of 37.04 seconds.

Bolt was disqualified for a false start in the 100m final won by his compatriot Yohan Blake, but won his other five races over the distance with a best time of 9.76 seconds.

“This season was a really trying season for me, I really had to work hard and stand up my game,” Bolt told the official IAAF website.

“There were some close races this season, I really had to push myself. So this really means a whole lot to me. Because I really came out there hard this year, and all the hard work I put in paid off.”

The 25-year-old Pearson produced a stunning performance to claim gold in South Korea and set the fourth best time in history of 12.28 seconds, the fastest for 19 years.

Both athletes will pick up checks for $100,000.

Blake won the award for best male performance of the year with his 19.26 seconds run – the second best ever behind Bolt – in the 200m at the Diamond League final in Brussels.

Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won the women’s prize for her 5,000/10,000m double gold haul in Daegu.