Monica Puig's unlikely run to winning Puerto Rico's first Olympic gold medal inspired the world, and now she's received the ANOC Award for Best Female Athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Mónica Puig stunned Angelique Kerber and the world - with her surprise run to the Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and her incredible achievement has been by the Association of National Olympic Committees as one of the best of the Games.

The Puerto Rican, who won the first Olympic gold medal of her country's history, travelled to Doha, Qatar to receive the prestigious ANOC Award for Best Female Athlete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, hosted by the International Olympic Committee.

After thanking the committee and her family, Puig dedicated the award to her home country.

"A big, big thank you to Puerto Rico," she enthused on stage. "You guys have stood by me through the highs and the lows and thank you for always believing in me.

"I know for many years to come I will continue to keep making you proud," she added, before signing off with a "sí se puede," her famous Olympic rallying cry of "yes we can."