There is no denying of Roger Federer’s supremacy on court but the Swiss master isn’t only an authority on court but off it too - the world no.1 was named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for the third year in a row. He beat ace golfer Tiger Woods and retired Formula-One champion Michael Schumacher for the award.
Since his inception into world tennis, the 25-year-old has dominated the scores and an award here highlights his incessant domination in the year 2006 - making him only the first professional to receive the prestigious award on three occasions ever since it begun in 2000.
Russia’s record-breaking pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was named Sportswoman of the Year - by the 43-strong Laureus Academy members, while the jury named the Italian football side as the Team of the Year.
Serena Williams won the Australian Open in January after a long injury layout and for the feat the American was awarded the Comeback of the Year award here.
French tennis sensation Amelie Mauresmo beat Britain’s track dynamo Lewis Hamilton to the Breakthrough of the Year award, while Kelly Slater an American surfer bagged the award for Action Sportsperson of the Year.
There were some awards in the special category, that were given to Franz Beckenbauer for Lifetime Achievement and FC Barcelona for Spirit of Sport.
Briton Luke Dowdney was awarded the Sport for Good award for founding a boxing project for young people in Rio de Janeiro.
German skier Martin Braxenthaler was named the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Read
