Novak Djokovic and Vivian Cheruiyot Take Top Honors at 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards
Novak Djokovic and Vivian Cheruiyot received top prizes at the 13th annual Laureus World Sports Awards, the premier honors on the international sporting calendar, which were announced at the Awards Ceremony in the heart of London at Central Hall, Westminster.
Novak Djokovic was acclaimed Laureus World Sportsman of the Year after his remarkable 2011 when he won three Grand Slam events – the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – and took away the tennis world No 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal. Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000m & 10,000m gold medals at World Championships in Daegu, is the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Former Brazilian international footballer Raí, now a campaigner for social justice, won the Laureus Sport for Good Award. FC Barcelona is the Team of the Year. Oscar Pistorius of South Africa is the winner of the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Laureus (www.laureus.com) comprises the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards. Collectively, these three elements form the essence of Laureus, harnessing the power of sport to promote social change and celebrating sporting excellence.
The red carpet sizzled with global figures from sport and Hollywood including Luke Wilson, Thandie Newton, Lennox Lewis and Bar Rafaeli. The Awards Ceremony was hosted by actor Clive Owen.
The winners and nominees for the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards are (winners in bold):
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
Usain Bolt (Jamaica) Athletics
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis
Cadel Evans (Australia) Cycling
Lionel Messi (Argentina) Football
Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) Basketball
Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Motor Racing
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) Athletics
Maria Höfl-Riesch (Germany) Alpine Skiing
Carmelita Jeter (U.S.) Athletics
Petra Kvitova (Czech) Tennis
Homare Sawa (Japan) Football
Yani Tseng (Taiwan) Golf
Laureus World Team of the Year
All Blacks (N.Zealand) Rugby
FC Barcelona (Spain) Football
Dallas Mavericks (U.S.) Basketball
England Cricket Team
Japan Women’s Football Team
Red Bull (Austria) Motor Racing
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
Yohan Blake (Jamaica) Athletics
Mo Farah (UK) Athletics
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) Tennis
Rory McIlroy (UK) Golf
Li Na (China) Tennis
Oscar Pistorius (SA) Athletics
Laureus World Comeback of the Year
Eric Abidal (France) Football
Darren Clarke (UK) Golf
Crusaders (NZ) Rugby
Sergio Garcia (Spain) Golf
Liu Xiang (China) Athletics
Queensland Reds (Australia) Rugby
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability
Daniel Dias (Brazil) Swimming
Terezinha Guilhermina (Brazil) Athletics
Oscar Pistorius (SA) Athletics
Esther Vergeer (Netherlands) Wheelchair Tennis
David Weir (UK) Wheelchair Athletics
Irek Zaripov (Russia) Nordic Skiing
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year
Jamie Bestwick (UK) BMX
Philip Köster (Germany) Windsurfing
Carissa Moore (U.S.) Surfing
Travis Rice (U.S.) Snowboarding
Kelly Slater (U.S.) Surfing
Shaun White (U.S.) Skateboarding/Snowboarding.
