Usain Bolt wins Laureus Sportsman of Year prize for second year in a row

SPRINT king Usain Bolt has claimed the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for the second year in a row while tennis star Serena Williams scooped the woman's prize.

DOUBLING UP: Usain Bolt poses with the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award - the second year in a row he has scooped the prize (Getty Images)

The Jamaican claimed three gold medals at last summer's World Championships in Berlin, romping to victory in the 100m and 200m, breaking his own world records in the process, before anchoring the 4x100m home to gold.

Bolt also picked up the award last year for his heroics at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where he also broke the world record on the way to a 100m and 200m double before scooping relay gold.

Williams, who won the award in 2003, has also been handed the prize for the second time, having collected the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles to take her grand slam tally to 12 as well as regaining the world number one ranking.

Meanwhile, Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters earned the award for the Comeback of the Year.

Clijsters won the US Open last year after she was absent from tennis for almost two years, getting married and giving birth.