Spaniard Rafael Nadal bags Laureus 'World Sportsman of the Year’ Award
Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal has taken his first ever 2011 Laureus Sportsman of the Year award. The world number one was honoured in a glittering ceremony at the prestigious Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The event was attended by a number of celebrities and was hosted by two time Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey. The winners are chosen by forty six sports stars that represent the Laureus Sports Academy.
Nadal beat National Basketball Association professional Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Barcelona Football Club's Lionel Messi of Argentina, Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao, Spain Football team's Andres Iniesta and Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel to clinch the award.
The tennis champion had a commendable 2010 season. He became the first man ever to win three Grand Slams in a year on three different surfaces, clinching the 2010 French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open Men's singles title.
Meanwhile, the Sportswoman of the Year award was bagged by skiing Olympic gold medalist, Lindsey Vonn
Vonn beat off competition from Jessica Ennis of the United Kingdom, Croatia's Blanka Vlasic and tennis professionals: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Belgium's Kim Clijsters and American tennis star Serena Williams. Von was acknowledged for her third skiing World Cup in a row, apart from bagging the Olympic downhill gold medal.
Frenchman and legendary football player Zinedine Zidane received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his brilliant career in which he has won the European Championship, World Cup and the Champions League.
Blind Paralympics cross-country skier and bi-athlete Verena Bentele of Germany took the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, while the founder of the Beirut Marathon, May El-Khalil bagged the Sport for Good Award.
Motorcycle champion, Valentino Rossi bagged the Comeback of the Year Award after returning to MotoGP, 41 days after injuring his leg.
America's Kelly Slater took the Action Sportsperson of the Year Award, while the Breakthrough of the Year gong was taken by German golfer Martin Kaymer who has just won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
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