'Lighting' Bolt named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

Amit Kumar Das
Abu Dhabi, Mar 10 (PTI) Olympic gold medallist sprinter
Usain Bolt won the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the
Year award for the second consecutive time while American
tennis player Serena Williams bagged the women's prize in a
glittering function at the Emirates palace here tonight.
The Jamaican was honoured for his sterling performances
this year, where he won three more gold medals at the World
Championships, continuing his amazing blitz on sprinting after
the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bolt, nicknamed "Lightning Bolt", pipped other strong
contenders for this award such as tennis sensation Roger
Federer, who won French Open and Wimbledon last year, FIFA
footballer of the year Lionel Messi.
Bolt, who was not personally present at the function,
send his message through a video conference after winning the
award.
"I am focusing on 2012 London Olympics and breaking more
records. But I am not keen on running 400m hurdles," an
ecstatic Bolt said.
Sizzling tennis star Serena, who won two grand slam title
– Australian Open and Wimbledon – last year now stands only
second to Roger Federer, who has so far won Laureus award four
times.
Williams had won the Laureus comeback award in 2007,
while Federer won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award from
2005-2008.
The ace tennis star rose to the peak of tennis when she
regained the world No 1 ranking for the fifth time in her
career. She also broke the record set by Justine Henin for the
most prize money earned by a female tennis player in one
season with a total of USD 6,545,586 during the year.
Serena, who also couldn't make it to the event, said she
was delighted to have won the award.
"I am very happy to win this Award. I feel bad that I
cannot be in Abu Dhabi. It's my third Laureus Award and I
would like to thank all the Academy Members who voted for me
and to the world's media who nominated me. Its is great to
have got so much support after last year's ups and downs," she
said through video conference.
"As a tennis player you look at the amazing names of the
Academy Members - like John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova,
Boris Becker and Monica Seles - who have won so many Grand
Slams and they know what it takes to do that. There is nothing
better in sport than being acknowledged by the people that you
looked up to when you were a young player," she added.
"I think I was also nominated four more times. I know
only Roger Federer has more Awards, so it would be cool to
catch him up."
About the 2010 season, Serena said it will be an exciting
year with Henin and Kim making a comeback. "I've had a few
injury problems over the years, so it's been great to get back
to the top and be World No 1 again. It's going to be an
interesting year with Justine Henin back, but I'm playing well
and I want to win every tournament I play."
Among others, reigning Formula One World Drivers'
Champion Jeson Button won the Breakthrough of the year Award,
while his last year's team Brawn GP was named Laureus World
Team of the year.
Belgium sensation Kim Clijsters, who shocked the world by
winning the US open on her come back to tennis after an
absence of two years following her retirement, won the Laureus
Comeback of the Year Award.
South African swimmer Natalie Du Toit, who won five golds
during the 2008 Summer Paralympics, won the Laureus disability
award, while Australia's three-time World surfing champion
Stephanie Gilmore was named Laureus World action Sportsperson
of the Year.
Academy member Nawal El Moutawakel received the Laureus
lifetime achievement award for her work for women in sport and
the International Olympic committee. And the sport for good
award went to American basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo for
his charitable work in his native Congo.
The Awards Ceremony was attended by global figures from
the world of sports and entertainment, including Franz
Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Nadia
Comaneci, Kapil Dev, Emerson Fittipaldi, Cathy Freeman, Mika
Hakkinen, Mike Horn, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Monica
Seles, and Steve Waugh.
Among the Hollywood stars were double Oscar-winning actor
Kevin Spacey, who hosted the glittering Awards Ceremony,
Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, UK film stars Hugh
Grant and Clive Owen, US actors Kyle MacLachlan from Desperate
Housewives and Michelle Rodriguez who played leading roles in
the Oscar-winning movie 'Avatar' and the TV series 'Lost'.
Also present were Grammy nominated singer-songwriter
Mika, England Test cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Formula One
winner David Coulthard, world boxing champion Amir Khan,
Olympic rowing legend Steve Redgrave, and supermodel Jessica
Michibata. PTI ATK