It marked the first time that field event athletes had won both
awards and the first time a male pole vaulter or a female thrower
collected the honours, the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) said.
Frenchman Lavillenie, 28, set the world record of 6.16 metres in the
Ukrainian city of Donetsk in February, breaking Sergei Bubka's
21-year-old mark. He also won 21 of 22 competitions.
"This is really the dream season for me," he said when accepting the
honour.
"I think the world record contributed to the award but I won other
competitions too. I wasn't as good as Valerie, I lost one
competition, but 21 out of 22 is not too bad in an event which is
quite unpredictable."
Adams, 30, claimed a ninth global title when she retained her world
indoor crown in Sopot, Poland.
The New Zealander was unbeaten in 2014 and boosted her winning
streak to 56 competitions, having not lost since 2010.
Adams was the only athlete to triumph in all seven IAAF Diamond
League fixtures this season.
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"This is the icing on the cake for 2014. It's been a year that's
been physically challenging but I’m proud to be here for New Zealand
and Oceania," she said.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Tony
Jimenez)
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