Bolt, Williams earn US Sports Academy’s Athlete of Year

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and US tennis player Serena Williams are the United States Sports Academy's Athletes of the Year for 2012.

The pair led the voting for the US Sports Academy 28th annual Athlete of the Year awards.

Fans from around the world selected the top male and female athlete from among 12 male and 12 female nominees in online balloting on the US Sports Academy's website.

The voting was held from December 1 through December 21.

Bolt remains the world's fastest man by repeating the Olympic gold medallist in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2012 London Games, becoming the first man to win both events in successive Summer Olympics.

Bolt won three other main awards for the year.

Williams took the gold medals in women's singles and doubles at the 2012 London Games and won the championships at Wimbledon and the US Open, running her total of Grand Slam titles to 15.

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