Laureus World Sports Awards

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The Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons DaimlerChrysler and Richemont.

There is a two-part voting process to find the winners: Firstly, a Selection Panel of the world's leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters from over 80 countries votes to create a shortlist of six nominations in each category. The voting process is monitored by independent auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy then vote by secret ballot to select the Award winners.

There are five categories voted for by the Laureus Media Selection Panel:

  • Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
  • Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
  • Laureus World Team of the Year
  • Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
  • Laureus World Comeback of the Year

There are two categories voted for by Specialist Panels:

  • Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year, chosen by a panel of the world's leading alternative sports journalists, and
  • Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, which is overseen by the Executive Committee of the International Paralympic Committee.

Three other honours are selected by the Founding Patrons and the Academy. These are the

  • Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Laureus Sport for Good Award
  • Laureus Spirit of Sport (since 2005)

presented at the Laureus Academy's discretion to people who have made an outstanding contribution to society through sport. The Academy can, if it wishes, also bestow additional Awards.

Each winner receives a Laureus statuette exclusively produced by Cartier. The universal nature of sport is celebrated by the representation of the five continents, which are engraved on the base. The statuettes are 30 cm high and weigh 2.5 kg. Each figure contains 670 g of solid silver with a 650 g gold finish base.

The 2007 gala was held on April 2nd in Barcelona, Spain. King Juan Carlos I of Spain was the guest of honour. The 2008 awards was held on February 18th in St Petersburg, Russia, attended by President Vladimir Putin and hosted by Cuba Gooding, Jr.

World No. 1 tennis player Roger Federer has won Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the last four years consecutively. He is also the only sportsman to have won the prize four times in the history of Laureus World Sports Awards.

Contents

[edit] Winners by category

The list of nominees are compiled by a selection panel that consists of top sports media journalists from countries across the globe. They are invited by the Laureus Foundation and nominate finalists in February each year.

[edit] Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year

Main articles: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
Year Sportsman Sportswoman
Name Sport Name Sport
2008 Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer Tennis Flag of Belgium Justine Henin Tennis
2007 Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer Tennis Flag of Russia Yelena Isinbayeva Athletics
2006 Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer Tennis Flag of Croatia Janica Kostelic Alpine Skiing
2005 Flag of Switzerland Roger Federer Tennis Flag of the United Kingdom Kelly Holmes Athletics
2004 Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Motor racing Flag of Sweden Annika Sörenstam Golf
2003 Flag of the United States Lance Armstrong Cycling Flag of the United States Serena Williams Tennis
2002 Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Motor racing Flag of the United States Jennifer Capriati Tennis
2001 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods Golf Flag of Australia Cathy Freeman Athletics
2000 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods Golf Flag of the United States Marion Jones Athletics

[edit] Team of the Year

Main article: Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year

[edit] Breakthrough of the Year

Prior to 2007, this award was called Newcomer of the Year

Main article: Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year

[edit] Comeback of the Year

Main article: Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year

[edit] Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year

Main article: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year

[edit] Action Sportsperson of the Year

Prior to 2007, this award was called Alternative Sportsperson of the Year

Main article: Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year

[edit] Lifetime Achievement Award

[edit] Spirit of Sport Award

[edit] Sport for Good Award

[edit] Awards by year

[edit] 2008

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer Flag of Switzerland Switzerland tennis
Sportswoman of the Year Justine Henin Flag of Belgium Belgium tennis
Team of the Year South African rugby team Flag of South Africa South Africa rugby
Comeback of the Year Paula Radcliffe Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom athletics
Sportsperson with a Disability Esther Vergeer Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands tennis
Breakthrough of the Year Lewis Hamilton Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Formula One
Action Sportsperson Shaun White Flag of the United States United States snowboarding/skateboarding
Lifetime Achievement Award Sergey Bubka Flag of Ukraine Ukraine pole vault
Spirit of Sport Award Dick Pound Flag of Canada Canada World Anti-Doping Agency
Sports for Good Award Brendan Tuohey and Sean Tuohey Flag of the United States United States basketball

[edit] 2007

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer Flag of Switzerland Switzerland tennis
Sportswoman of the Year Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia Russia athletics
Team of the Year Italy national football team Flag of Italy Italy football
Comeback of the Year Serena Williams Flag of the United States United States tennis
Sportsperson with a Disability Martin Braxenthaler Flag of Germany Germany skiing
Breakthrough of the Year Amélie Mauresmo Flag of France France tennis
Action Sportsperson Kelly Slater Flag of the United States United States surfing
Lifetime Achievement Award Franz Beckenbauer Flag of Germany Germany football
Spirit of Sport Award FC Barcelona Flag of Spain Spain football
Sports for Good Award Luke Dowdney Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom boxing

[edit] 2006

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer Flag of Switzerland Switzerland tennis
Sportswoman of the Year Janica Kostelić Flag of Croatia Croatia alpine skiing
Team of the Year Renault F1 Team Flag of France France formula one racing
Newcomer of the Year Rafael Nadal Flag of Spain Spain tennis
Comeback of the Year Martina Hingis Flag of Switzerland Switzerland tennis
Sportsperson with a Disability Ernst van Dyk Flag of South Africa South Africa wheelchair racing
Alternative Sportsperson Angelo d'Arrigo Flag of Italy Italy aviation
Lifetime Achievement Award Johan Cruyff Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands football
Spirit of Sport Award Valentino Rossi Flag of Italy Italy motorcycling
Sports for Good Award Jürgen Griesbeck streetworldfootball

[edit] 2005

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer Flag of Switzerland Switzerland tennis
Sportswoman of the Year Kelly Holmes Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom track and field athletics
Team of the Year Greece national football team Flag of Greece Greece football
Newcomer of the Year Liu Xiang Flag of the People's Republic of China China track and field athletics
Comeback of the Year Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi Flag of Italy Italy auto racing
Sportsperson with a Disability Chantal Petitclerc Flag of Canada Canada track and field athletics
Alternative Sportsperson Ellen MacArthur Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom yachting
Lifetime Achievement Award No award
Spirit of Sport Award Boston Red Sox Flag of the United States United States baseball
Sports for Good Award Gerry Storey Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom boxing (trainer)

[edit] 2004

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Germany motor racing
Sportswoman of the Year Annika Sörenstam Flag of Sweden Sweden golf
Team of the Year England rugby union team Flag of England England rugby
Newcomer of the Year Michelle Wie Flag of the United States United States golf
Comeback of the Year Hermann Maier Flag of Austria Austria alpine skiing
Sportsperson with a Disability Earle Connor Flag of Canada Canada track and field athletics
Alternative Sportsperson Layne Beachley Flag of Australia Australia surfing
Lifetime Achievement Award Arne Næss Jr. Flag of Norway Norway mountaineer
Sports for Good Award cricket

[edit] 2003

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Lance Armstrong Flag of the United States United States cycling
Sportswoman of the Year Serena Williams Flag of the United States United States tennis
Team of the Year Brazil national football team Flag of Brazil Brazil football
Newcomer of the Year Yao Ming Flag of the People's Republic of China China basketball
Comeback of the Year Ronaldo Flag of Brazil Brazil football
Sportsperson with a Disability Michael Milton Flag of Australia Australia alpine skiing
Alternative Sportsperson Dean Potter Flag of the United States United States speed climbing
Lifetime Achievement Award Gary Player Flag of South Africa South Africa golf

[edit] 2002

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Germany motor racing
Sportswoman of the Year Jennifer Capriati Flag of the United States United States tennis
Team of the Year Australian men's cricket team Flag of Australia Australia cricket
Newcomer of the Year Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Colombia Colombia motor racing
Comeback of the Year Goran Ivanišević Flag of Croatia Croatia tennis
Sportsperson with a Disability Esther Vergeer Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands wheelchair tennis
Alternative Sportsperson Bob Burnquist Flag of Brazil Brazil skateboarding
Sport for Good Award Sir Peter Blake Flag of New Zealand New Zealand yachting
Lifetime Achievement Award Sir Peter Blake Flag of New Zealand New Zealand yachting

[edit] 2001

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Tiger Woods Flag of the United States United States golf
Sportswoman of the Year Cathy Freeman Flag of Australia Australia athletics
Team of the Year France national football team Flag of France France football
Newcomer of the Year Marat Safin Flag of Russia Russia tennis
Comeback of the Year Jennifer Capriati Flag of the United States United States tennis
Sportsperson with a Disability Vinny Lauwers Flag of Australia Australia paraplegic sailing
Alternative Sportsperson Mike Horn Flag of South Africa South Africa equator circumnavigation
Sport for Good Award Kip Keino Flag of Kenya Kenya athletics
Lifetime Achievement Award Sir Steve Redgrave Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom rowing

[edit] 2000

Category Winner Discipline
Sportsman of the Year Tiger Woods Flag of the United States United States golf
Sportswoman of the Year Marion Jones Flag of the United States United States athletics
Team of the Year Manchester United Flag of England England football
Newcomer of the Year Sergio García Flag of Spain Spain golf
Comeback of the Year Lance Armstrong Flag of the United States United States cycling
Sportsperson with a Disability Louise Sauvage Flag of Australia Australia wheelchair athletics
Alternative Sportsperson Shaun Palmer Flag of the United States United States multi-discipline
Sport for Good Award Eunice Kennedy Shriver Flag of the United States United States
Lifetime Achievement Award Pelé Flag of Brazil Brazil football

[edit] Laureus World Sports Academy Members

[edit] Active

The Academy was originally 40-strong, and as of early 2007, currently has 45 members. Those marked with an asterisk (*) after their names joined after the Academy was originally founded.

[edit] Deceased

[edit] Past members

  • Pelé (Brazil) - football. Retired from the Academy in 2007.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

v • d • e
National Sportsperson of the Year

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