The Serb, given a huge ovation after his epic Australian
Open triumph, joins one of sport’s most elite lists. The previous
winners have been Roger Federer (four times), Tiger Woods, Michael
Schumacher and Bolt (each twice), Lance Armstrong and Rafa Nadal.
Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot, who established herself as one of the great distance
runners of her generation with her 5,000 metres and 10,000m golden double at
the World Championships in Daegu, was voted World Sportswoman of the Year
ahead of the likes of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and golf’s
irresistible force, Taiwan’s Yani Tseng.
Twelve months ago, Spain’s World Cup footballers were hailed as World Team of
the Year and this time Barcelona, who made up most of that side, lifted the
title for their Champions League and La Liga double.
Collecting the award, club president Sandro Rosell, when asked about the
victory over Manchester United at Wembley, called one of the guests, Sir
Alex Ferguson, the greatest coach in football history and said he hoped Pep
Guardiola would one day be considered the best.
The All Blacks’ World Cup winners would doubtless have been unimpressed at
missing out but at least the home audience were spared the embarrassment of
seeing the shortlisted England cricket team crowned on the day they were
whitewashed by Pakistan in Dubai.
Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s pioneering ‘Blade Runner’, won the Disability
Award after his historic achievement of becoming the first amputee to win a
medal, in the 4 x 400m relay, at the world athletics championships, while
Rai, the former Brazilian football international won the Sport for Good
Award for his campaigning work for social justice.
Laureus award winners
World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (tennis)
World Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruiyot (athletics)
World Team of the Year: Barcelona (football)
World Breakthrough of the Year: Rory McIlroy (golf)
World Comeback of the Year: Darren Clarke (golf)
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Oscar Pistorius
(athletics)
World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater (surfing)
Lifetime Achievement: Sir Bobby Charlton (football)
Sport for Good Award: Rai (football)