a man who once again stole the show.

Brian Wellman, taking time out from the start of the indoor track and field season, walked away with his fifth straight Athlete of the Year Award at the gala event thrown by the Ministry of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation.

That's an accomplishment no one has reached in the 16-year-history of the awards and it broke the tie with Clarance Saunders, who also won four times, although not consecutively.

Paula Lewin also made it into the record book when she was named Female Athlete of the Year. Although three women have been named Athlete of the Year before her, Lewin last night became the first winner of what is now a separate annual category for females.

Her selection, determined by an eight-person committee by secret ballot last month, was possibly the easiest. How many other Bermudians, regardless of gender, are ranked first in the world? Wellman, meanwhile, was a little underwhelmed by the award, but comfortable enough to trade jibes with Premier David Saul and gracious enough to hang around the Princess Hotel and chat with assorted guests.

Does it lose some of its lustre after five years? "Somewhat,'' he admitted, noting the accomplishments of other deserving athletes, such as Troy Douglas and Elliot Hubbard, both of whom won special achievement awards last night.

At the very least, said Wellman, putting it in perspective, "whoever comes along next, it will give them something to shoot for.'' Wellman already has something to shoot for after what for him was a substandard year. Of course, Wellman's standards are higher than most -- especially after his breakthrough 1995 season.

"That made me realise what I can achieve,'' he said. "Once you compete at that level, you don't want to go back.'' "I hang around with (Donovan) Bailey, Michael (Johnson), Jonathan Edwards, all those guys. Those are the best athletes in the world and you can't help but want to reach their standards.'' Wellman has put the disappointment of the Olympic Games behind him and notes how two weeks later he jumped a distance that would have earned him a Games medal. Hindered by a nagging leg injury, he's been fifth and sixth in two events this season.

Generally speaking, Lewin's sport is sailing. Specifically, though, her game is match-racing: It's what earned her second place in the world championships and it's what catapulted her current hold on number one on the planet. And don't bother with the male-female distinction. She regularly holds her own against male counterparts.

AWARD WINNERS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Female: Paula Lewin; Male: Brian Wellman SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT (Administration/volunteer) Judy Hagen; Debra Saltus ACHIEVEMENT Timothy Collins (equestrian) Troy Douglas (track and field) Jennifer Fisher (track and field) Elliot Hubbard (cycling) Kentoine Jennings (soccer) SPORTS CITATION Walter Burgess (tennis) Gareth Davies (swimming) Michael DeCosta (harness racing) June Durrant (softball) Michael Sharpe (track and field) APPRECIATION Richard Tucker (road running) Livingston Tuzo (soccer)