Photo: www.laureusarchive.comNovak Djokovic (SRB)
Novak Djokovic’s outstanding year in 2011 has seen him crowned as Laureus World Sportsman of the Year during a ceremony in London. The Laureus awards are presented annually and celebrate the top sporting achievements of the past 12 months.
Djokovic began the year with a 43 match winning streak that included a second Australian Open crown and lasted until the semifinals at Roland Garros. A first Wimbledon title saw him rise to world No. 1, a position which he consolidated by taking a third Grand Slam title for the year at the US Open.
In addition to the Grand Slam titles Djokovic won five Masters 1000 events, his hometown tournament in Belgrade, and Dubai, beating Rafael Nadal in six of those finals, and boasting a 70-6 overall win-loss record.
Esther Vergeer, a six-time nominee and two-time winner of the Laureus World Sportsperson with a Disability award, was among six nominees for this year’s award, but lost out to athlete Oscar Pistorius.
She was nominated for the 2012 award after another outstanding season in 2011, having won her 14th NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters title, all three Grand Slam singles titles and extended her winning streak to 434 matches.
A full list of winners from the World Sports Awards is shown below:
World Sportsman of the Year – Novak Djokovic, Tennis
World Sportswoman of the Year – Vivian Cheruiyot, Athletics
World Team of the Year – FC Barcelona, Soccer
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
The Awards were held in London with a view to the Olympic Games taking place in the city later in 2012 and were hosted by actor Clive Owen. Prior to the ceremony British Prime Minister David Cameron hosted nominees and Laureus Academy members at his official residence in Downing Street. Legendary names from the world of sport such as Nadia Comanechi, Mark Spitz, Sergey Bubka and Boris Becker were all present.
Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which supports almost 80 community projects around the world which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people through the use of sport.