PARIS, France (CMC):

JAMAICAN SPRINT marvel Usain Bolt added another significant honour to his log yesterday when the famous French sports daily L'Equipe named him their 2008 Athlete of the Year. In securing the prized label for his tremendous triple-gold-medal-winning appearance at the Beijing Olympics in August, Bolt defeated American swimmer Michael Phelps and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal.

The 22-year-old Bolt, who won gold medals in the 100 and 200 metre races as well as the sprint relay with the Jamaican team, all in world-record times, was selected as L'Equipe's 'Champion of Champions' for 2008.

Growing list

This latest honour adds to Bolt's growing list in recent weeks.

Bolt was named IAAF World Male Athlete of the Year, Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Athlete of the Year, Jamaica's Athlete of the Year, and, only last weekend, copped the BBC Overseas Sports Personality award.

Phelps also made history in Beijing by winning eight gold medals but finished runner-up to Bolt.

Nadal was third after winning the French Open and Wimbledon to take over the No. 1 ranking in world tennis.

Bolt picked up 832 points in the vote, to win by a considerable margin over Phelps (694) and Nadal (413).

Bolt succeeds Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, who won the honour the past three years.

Other winners in the award's 28-year history include German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, Carl Lewis, the American sprinter, and the American golf star Tiger Woods.