Briefs3-Thierry Henry voted France's favourite athlete

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Soccer news in brief from around the world:

Soccer - Thierry Henry has been voted France's favourite athlete, according to a poll released by French daily L'Equipe on Saturday.

France's all-time top scorer came first with 42 percent of a sample of 1,101 French people. Fellow soccer player Franck Ribery was second on 38.7 percent and last year's winner, swimmer Laure Manaudou, third on 34.3 percent.

Swimming - Former Australia coach John Carew, 81, has died after a long illness, Swimming Australia announced.

Carew was best known as the mastermind behind Australian long distance swimmer Kieren Perkins, who won the 1,500 metres freestyle gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

Soccer - Manchester United's Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo is deservedly the clear favourite to win the Ballon d'Or this year, Spain striker Fernando Torres has said.