Hooker ‘World Athlete of the Year’ finalist

(Tuesday, 10 November 2009)

World and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker has been named alongside Usain Bolt as one of the top five male athletes in world athletics according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Hooker and Bolt join Kenenisa Bekele, Tyson Gay and Andreas Thorkildsen as the finalists in the 2009 IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards.

The 27-year-old hasn’t taken a backward step since taking out the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics last year, setting a new national record of 6.06m in Boston on February 7 and stunning the athletics world with his injury-defying performance to take out the world championship in Berlin in August.

Hooker was thrilled to be named amongst such a talented short list of athletes.

“It’s pretty amazing to be named alongside Usain and Kenenisa who both collected multiple world championships this year,” Hooker said.

“Although, I reckon like most people who line up in a race against Usain Bolt, we’re racing for second here.

“Still, Tyson Gay did run 9.71sec to break the American record when he finished second to Usain in Berlin so there is no disgrace in that.

“It’s a massive honour when you look at the names on the list to think that the world experts of athletics believe I am in the top five. It’s pretty satisfying.”

The five IAAF finalists were announced following a three-week poll of athletics identities worldwide, whose nominations gave rise to the final candidates for the award.

Thewinners of the 2009 World Athlete of the Year Awards (male and female) will be announced at the 2009 World Athletics Gala in Monaco on November 22, 2009.

Hooker has also been nominated for the Sports Performer of the Year Awards. Vote for Steve here.