High jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam named athletes of the year

Barshim claimed the title from a shortlist comprising Britain's long-distance star Mo Farah and South Africa's 400m champion Wayde Van Niekerk.

Rising star of the Year (Male) Karsten Warholm, female athlete of the Year Nafissatou Thiam, male Athlete of the Year Mutaz Essa Barshim and female Rising star of the Year Award Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas | AP

MONACO: Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim and Belgium's heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam were named the IAAF's men's and women's athlete of the year.

World champion Barshim succeeds retired Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. He claimed the title from a shortlist comprising Britain's long distance star Mo Farah and South Africa's 400m champion Wayde Van Niekerk.

Thiam, who won hepatathlon gold at the Olympics and worlds in London, beat off competition from Ethiopia's 10,000m Olympic champion Almaz Ayana and Greek polevault star Ekaterini Stefanidi.

The men's and women's finalists were whittled down from an original list of 10 by a vote of IAAF council members, fans and fellow athletes.

At the awards ceremony in Monaco Bolt was awarded the president's prize.