History was created last evening as two women, 200m gold medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown, who repeated her Athens 200m success, and winner of the 400m hurdles gold at the Beijing Olympic games, Melaine Walker, copped the 48th RJR Foundation Sports-woman of the Year award for 2008.

Walker, a past student of St Jago High School, won the 400m hurdles gold in a new Olympic record time of 52.64 seconds.

"I am feeling happy and I am grateful. I went to the Olympics and I gave it my best and I came out being the Sportswoman of the Year, tying with Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is also a superb athlete, so I cant complain," Walker said after receiving her award.

A five-time Olympic medallist, Campbell-Brown is the reigning Olympic 200m and World 100m champion. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she ran the 200 metres in 21.74 seconds, the seventh-fastest time ever, and became the second woman in history to win the Olympic 200 metres twice, successfully defending her title. Barbel Wockel of Germany also did so at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics.

"We all knew that the award would be very close. So I just appreciate being recognised. It is an honour and it's very good when you are recognised for the hard work that you put in," Campbell-Brown said.

brilliant and riveting

As expected, triple Olympic gold medallist, Usain Bolt, was rewarded for his brilliant and riveting performance in Beijing, taking home the Sportsman of the Year award. Cricketer Jerome Taylor, who took 24 wickets in six Test matches at an average of 29.79 and scored a century - 106 off 107 balls against New Zealand - took the runner-up position as the Sportsman of the Year.

Bolt, winner of the 100m (9.69), 200m (19.30) and member of Jamaica's 4x100m gold-medal team (37.10), won ahead of rivals, cricketer Jerome Taylor, footballer Luton Shelton, former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

"The award feels good. It is always good to know that your country recognises you for your great performance. I had it in my mind that I would have been the winner," Bolt said.

Shelly-Ann Fraser won the People's Choice Performance award for her 10.78 Olympic effort, ahead of Jerome Taylor, Ricardo Fuller and Damion Benjamin

New chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation, Chris Dehring, presented the Chairman's Award to former West Indies captain, Jimmy Adams, for his stellar performance and contribution to the game of cricket.

Certificates of merit were given to Wilbert Parkes and Branford Gayle for their contribution to sports; to Sylvester Campbell for his contribution to netball; to Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore for football, and to Junior Bennett, cricket.

Special awards were received by the 4x100 metre gold relay team of Nesta Carter, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Dwight Thomas. The 4x400 metre relay women bronze team of Novlene Williams, Rosemarie Whyte, Shericka Williams, Shereefa Lloyd and Bobby Gaye Wilkins also received special awards.

The 100m final women who placed first, second and third respectively, Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, were also winners.