MOSCOW, December 16 (R-Sport) – Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbaeva has been nominated for the female athlete of the year award by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).
Isinbaeva, 31, is in the running for her fourth AIPS title, having won the award in 2006, 2008 and 2009. The online poll for AIPS members will close December 28.
She faces competition from Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won three golds at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow in August, American swimmer Missy Franklin, who claimed a record six gold medals at the world aquatics championships, and tennis star Serena Williams among other top athletes.
Isinbaeva won her third world title in Moscow, beating reigning Olympic champion Jenn Suhr and London 2012 silver medalist Yarisley Silva.
She then announced that she would take a break from her athletics career to try to start a family, but could return to competition for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
Footballers Franck Ribery, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are on the shortlist for the men’s award, along with sprint idol Usain Bolt and four-time Formula One racing champion Sebastian Vettel.
Nominees:
Women: Yelena Isinbayeva, Edna Kiplagat, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (all athletics), Tora Berger (biathlon), Marit Bjorgen (cross-country skiing), Tina Maze (alpine ski), Missy Franklin, Katinnka Hosszu, Poliana Okinoto (all swimming), Serena Williams (tennis), Nicol David (squash), Tine Baun (badminton), Tatyana McFadden (Paralympic athletics), Nadine Angerer (football)
Men: Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Wilson Kipsang (all athletics), Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal (both tennis), Lionel Messi, Neymar, Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo (all football), Sebastian Vettel (F1), Yang Sun (swimming), Kohei Uchimura (gymnastics), Nick Matthew (squash).
