Novak Djokovic the big winner at Laureus Awards as Springboks, Siya Kolisi miss out
Novak Djokovic was named World Sportsman of the Year for a record-equalling fifth time at the Laureus Awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday.
At the Laureus Awards presentation on Monday, Spanish soccer Anaitana Bonmati earned individual and team honors, and Novak Djokovic was named World Sportsman of the Year for a record-tying sixth time.
At the prestigious occasion in Madrid, tennis legend Novak Djokovic, a record 24-time Grand Slam winner, matched the record set by his erstwhile opponent Roger Federer.
‘HONOURED’ – NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Djokovic, 36, won three Grand Slams last year along with the ATP Finals.
“I am incredibly honoured to have won my fifth,” said Djokovic.
“I think back to 2012, when I won it for the first time as a 24-year-old.
“I am very proud to be here 12 years later, reflecting on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success.”
Bonmati won the Sportswoman of the Year award, becoming the first footballer to do so, and was also rewarded along with her Spain team-mates for winning the Women’s World Cup last summer.
Despite being nominated after winning the Rugby World Cup in 2023, the Springboks were not selected.
Bonmati, who also won the Champions League with her club Barcelona, remarked of her national squad, “We are a group unlike any other – our strength comes from every challenge we have faced, both on and off the field of play.”
Bonmati and her teammates received recognition for their protests against the disgraced former president Luis Rubiales’s forced kissing of player Jenni Hermoso, which helped to fight sexism in the Spanish football organization..
SIYA KOLISI MISSED OUT
A day after scoring the decisive goal in the Clasico against Barcelona, England international Jude Bellingham was named the recipient of the World Breakthrough of the Year award for his incredible start to life at Real Madrid.
Bellingham, who scored 21 goals in all competitions during his rookie campaign at Los Blancos, leads the team in scoring.
Gymnast Simone Biles won the World Comeback of the Year title for her spectacular comeback to the sport following a nearly two-year hiatus due to mental health issues.
Biles, a three time World Sportswoman of the year winner, won four gold medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium last year.
She won the prize ahead of Siya Kolisi, the captain of the Springboks and another nominee.
The Sport for Good award went to tennis player Rafael Nadal’s foundation, which helps children in Spain and India; Diede de Groot took home the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability title.
Last year, the Dutch wheelchair tennis player achieved an unprecedented triple crown in the calendar year.
Australian skateboarder Arisa Trew, 14, took home the World Action Sportsperson of the Year title.
A jury of 69 former athletes that make up the Laureus Academy has been giving out the awards every year since 2000.
