Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe was today named the world's most outstanding athlete by the International Amateur Athletic Association (IAAA).
Thorpe (19) won a record six gold medals at last year's world championships in Japan. He will receive his award at a function in New York on March 27th.
The Australian was picked by a panel of sports experts as the winner of the 22nd annual American-International Athlete Trophy, formerly known as the Jesse Owens Award.
US Olympic gold medallist sprinter Marion Jones won last year's award.