ST.PETERSBURG, February 18, 2008 - Swiss tennis star Roger Federer has made history by becoming the first ever winner of four Laureus World Sports Awards. Federer was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, for the fourth straight time, at the 2008 Awards Ceremony in St.Petersburg, Russia.
Tennis was the big winner in St.Petersburg as Belgium's Justine Henin won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award and Holland's Esther Vergeer, the greatest wheelchair tennis star of all-time, won the Laureus Disability Award for the second time.
Two of the biggest names in British sport won Laureus Awards. Lewis Hamilton won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award after his remarkable debut season in Formula One, while long distance runner Paula Radcliffe won the Laureus Comeback of the Year Award.
South Africa won the Laureus World Team of the Year Award after their Rugby World Cup success in the autumn. While American skateboarder / snowboarder Shaun White won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award.
There was a warm reception at the Awards Ceremony for Ukraine pole vault legend Sergey Bubka who won the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, while Canadian Dick Pound, who retired after eight years as Chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, received the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award.
The Laureus Sport for Good Award went to Americans Brendan and Sean Tuohey for their work in founding the PeacePlayers International project.
The Laureus World Sports Awards is the only global sports awards honouring the greatest sportsmen and women across all sports each year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the 43 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a collection of the world's greatest sportsmen and women. The living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today.
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy present were: Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Sergey Bubka, Nadia Comaneci, Marcel Desailly, Kapil Dev, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dawn Fraser, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Marvin Hagler, Tony Hawk, Mike Horn, Miguel Indurain, Kip Keino, Franz Klammer, Edwin Moses, Robby Naish, Ilie Nastase, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Mark Spitz and Steve Waugh.
The spectacular backdrop of St. Petersburg, one of the most historic cities in the world, with its palaces of the tsars, museums, waterways and historic landmarks, provided a memorable location for the ninth annual Laureus World Sports Awards. The Awards Ceremony, held in the Mariinsky Concert Hall, opened with a special orchestral work chosen by Russian maestro Valery Gergiev, the artistic director of the Mariinsky, which featured brilliant Russian soprano Anna Netrebko. Uliana Lopatkina, principal dancer at the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet, also performed the ‘dying swan' from Swan Lake.
Valentina Matvienko, the Governor of St Petersburg said: "I heartily congratulate all the winners of Awards this year. St.Petersburg has been delighted to welcome the Laureus World Sports Awards and we are very pleased that our partnership with Laureus has been such a success. Sport is close to the hearts of millions of Petersburgers and we have enjoyed staging this major sporting event in our city. St Petersburg is a city that harmoniously combines historic traditions and modern European values. Active construction of sport facilities and creation of well-developed infrastructure, make St Petersburg the ideal venue for sports events of global significance such as the Laureus World Sports Awards."
The Awards were presented in seven categories. The winners were:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Roger Federer
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Justine Henin
Laureus World Team of the Year: South African Rugby Team
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Lewis Hamilton
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Paula Radcliffe
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Esther Vergeer
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Shaun White
There were three special Awards: The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ukraine pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, while Dick Pound, who retired after eight years as Chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency received the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award. American brothers Brendan and Sean Tuohey were the recipients of the Laureus Sport for Good Award for their work in founding the PeacePlayers International project.
For further information please contact:
Liz Brooks
Laureus Global Public Relations
Tel: +44 (0)20 7514 2749
Fax: +44 (0)20 7514 2782
Email: publicrelations@laureus.com
Photo Archive: www.laureusarchive.com
Website: www.laureus.com
For photos of Laureus events please visit www.laureusarchive.com
NB: Information correct at time of going to press
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