While Bolt has already won this Award four times, and is on for a hat-trick this year, Fraser-Pryce has never lifted the women's trophy despite having won gold at the last two Olympics.

The latter was named today as one of three finalists - along with shot putter Valerie Adams and 400 metres hurdler Zuzana Hejnova, both of whom were unbeaten this season and won gold in Moscow, following a month-long poll of the World Athletics Family, with the winner due to be announced in Monaco at the World Athletics Gala on Saturday, November 16.

Bolt faces opposition from the man who won both the 5,000m and 10,000m titles in Moscow, Britain's Mo Farah, and from the Ukrainian who won the world high jump title in such audacious fashion, Bohdan Bondarenko.

World high jump champion Bohdan Bondarenko, in line for the World Athlete of the Year title, has already won the European version this year

The Ukrainian was voted European Athlete of the Year last month ahead of France's Olympic and world silver medallist pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, and another Frenchman, Teddy Tamgho, who won the world triple jump title with an 18m-plus effort.

The Council of the International Athletics Foundation will select the male and female winners, with the announcement taking place live on stage in Monaco.

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