The Jamaican has already been voted as the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year after recovering from disqualification in the 100 metres at the Daegu World Championships by winning the 200m gold, anchoring the relay team to a world record and finishing the season with the year's fastest 100m time of 9.76sec.

Novak Djokovic, winner of three of the four tennis grand slams, Australia's Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and the German pair of Dirk Nowitzki, voted Most Valuable Player in the NBA, and Sebastian Vettel, who retained his Formula One world title, complete the line up.

Taiwan golfer Yani Tseng, who won two majors and headed the LPGA money list by more than $1 million (£646,120/€768,108), is on the women's individual shortlist along with Vivian Cheruiyot, winner of the world 5,000 and 10,000m titles in Daegu, Carmelita Jeter, the world 100m champion, German skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch, the Czech Republic's Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová and Homare Sawa, winner of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as a member of Japan's victorious World Cup football team.

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, who became the first amputee to win a medal in the able-bodied World Athletics Championships this year, is nominated for the World Breakthrough award along with Britain's Mo Farah, winner of the world 5,000m title, and Yohan Blake, who succeeded Jamaican team mate Bolt as world 100m champion.

The All Blacks Rugby World Cup winners are up for the team award along with Barcelona FC, NBA winners Dallas Mavericks, the England cricket team, the Japanese women's football team, and the Red Bull Formula One team.

The winners, as voted for by the 47 former sportsmen and women in the Laureus Sports Academy, will be revealed in London at a televised ceremony on Monday, February 6.

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