HAVANA, Cuba (CMC) – Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez have so far topped the poll for Sportsman-of-the-Year in Latin America and the Caribbean, conducted by the Cuban news agency, Prensa Latina. World record holder Bolt and ace striker Suarez shared the lead with 27 votes apiece up to Sunday.
It’s the fourth end-of-year award for which Bolt is being considered following a season in which he regained the 200 metres World title, helped Jamaica to another record in the men’s 4×100 relay, and ran unbeaten, although his copybook was marred by his false start in the 100 at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Suarez scored four goals for Uruguay as they won a record 15th Copa América earlier this year in Argentina. He was named Player-of-the-Tournament.
Nicknamed ‘El Pistolero’ (The Gunslinger), Suarez has also been in good form for English Premiership giants Liverpool, but he was slapped with an eight-match ban and fined 40 000 pounds Sterling for using racist language against Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
In third place with 12 votes is Argentine player Lionel Messi, star striker of the Spanish club Barcelona, European champions and winners of the World Club Championship.
Messi is also a candidate for the FIFA Golden Ball trophy.
Other sportsmen also being considered are Brazilian Cesar Cielo, swimming World champion in short course pools, and winner of four gold medals at the Pan Am Games Guadalajara 2011 with five votes.
Among sportswomen, the leader of votes is Colombian triple-jumper Catherine Ibarguen, bronze medallist at the World Championships, and Pan American Games champion in Guadalajara, with 39 votes.
In second place was Brazilian pole jumper Fabiana Murer, gold medal winner in the World Championships and second place in Guadalajara. She’s got 24 votes.
In third place was Cuban discus thrower Yarelis Barrios, gold medal winner in the World championships in Daegu and in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, with nine votes.
Strangely, Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown did not get into the frame although she won a gold medal at the World Championships in the 200 and ran consistently well for the entire season.
Among teams, the virtual winner will be the national soccer team of Uruguay, with 68 votes.
Next is Brazilian soccer club Santos, champions of the Copa Libertadores and finalists in the World Club Championship with seven votes.
Voting deadline will be tomorrow, December 22, and that same day Prensa Latina will announce the winners in each category.