The Jamaican, who won three golds at last year's International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Moscow, is one of six up for the award.

He is joined on the list of nominees by Britain's Moscow 5,000 metre and 10,000 metres champion Mo Farah and American LeBron James, nominated the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in five years.

Spain's French Open and US Open champion Rafael Nadal, Germany's Formula One world champion for a fourth time in a row Sebastian Vettel and Portugal's Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo complete the line-up.

The World Sportswoman of the Year award is headed by America's 2003 and 2010 winner Serena Williams, the defending French and US Open champion.

Slovenian alpine skier Tina Maze, winner of double Olympic gold in the downhill and the giant slalom at Sochi 2014, has been nominated after her World Cup successes.

German footballer Nadine Angerer, American swimmer Missy Franklin, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Russian pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva complete the nominees.

New Zealand's rugby union team and Brazil's men's football team are among those nominated for team of the year.

Formula One champions Red Bull and tennis' Bryan brothers from the United States have also been shortlisted.

American Tiger Woods is among those nominated for the World Comeback of the Year award, along with Oracle Team USA, who overcame an 8-1 deficit in the America's Cup for a remarkable 9-8 win.

Laureus Chairman Edwin Moses (right) and Seri Mohamed Nazri, Malaysian Minister of Tourism and Culture pictured outside Istana Budaya with the prestigious Laureus Statuette, presented to all winners of Laureus World Sports Awards ©Getty Images



British golfer Justin Rose has been shortlisted for the World Breakthrough of the Year award, together with Spanish Moto GP star Marc Marquez, who won last year's title in his rookie season.

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability nominees include American wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden and New Zealand swimmer Sophie Pascoe.

Speaking of Farah's second Laureus Sportsman of the Year nomination, Laureus World Sports Academy member Sebastian Coe said: "It was impressive enough to watch Mo win in the Olympic Stadium, but then to see him to do it all over again in Moscow was peerless.

"Mo is at that stage of his career when he is simply better than the rest and his performances are achieved in a truly global sport.

"He is more than deserving of this nomination."

The 2014 Laureus World Sports Award Ceremony are due to take place at the Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 26.

Bolt won Sportsman of the Year in 2013, to add to his wins in 2010 and 2009, while British heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill won the women's award.

The European Ryder Cup team won Team of the Year, and Comeback of the Year was won by Dominican 400m hurdler Felix Sánchez.

Breakthrough of the year was won by British tennis player Andy Murrary, and Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability was won by Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias

An award is also given to World Action Sportsperson of the Year.

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