With the year nearing its end, the governing bodies of various sports are starting to release their choices for the top performers from 2016, including the International Association of Athletics Federations. The IAAF's shortlist for the best track and field athletes has been unveiled and to no one's surprise, the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, is up for a record sixth men's crown.

The Jamaican sprint icon completed an unprecedented "triple-triple" by winning gold in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meter relay for the third successive Olympics at the Rio Games. The "Sprint-King" also holds the world records in the 100 and 200 meters at 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively. The 30-year-old is set to retire after the World Championships in London next year.

He is joined on the men's list by two-time 5,000 and 10,000 meter Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain... and South Africa's 400 meter Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk.

Bolt's fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson matched his feat by also winning the 100 and 200 meter golds in Rio, to make the women's shortlist together with Ethiopian Almaz Ayana and Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk.

The finalists were determined by the IAAF Council, the IAAF Family and a public vote via social media, and the winners will be announced in Monaco on December 2.