The Laureus Awards 2016

The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual ceremony held to honour some of the most remarkable men and women in the world of sport along with the greatest sporting achievements throughout the previous calendar year. The ceremony for this year’s awards was held in Berlin and hosted by actor Bill Murray.

The awards include:

• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
• Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
• Laureus World Team of the Year
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
• Laureus World Comeback of the Year
• Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a disability
• Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year

The winners of the above mentioned awards for the calendar year 2015-2016 are:

1. Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

Novak Djokovic went home with the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, beating Barcelona star Lionel Messi, sprinter Usain Bolt and F1 star Lewis Hamilton among others.

Djokovic won 3 of 4 grand slams in the year 2015. ‘He had a great year again,’ said Boris Becker, who is Djokovic’s coach. 

‘He’s played 88 matches, has won 82, He won three out of the four Grand Slams, reached the final of the French Open, he’s won seven other tournaments. Very few players, if any, had a year like that.’

2. Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year

It was a good day for tennis as Serena Williams beat footballer Carli Llyod and Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award. Like her male counterpart, Williams also won 3 grandslams out of 4 in 2015.

3.  Laureus World Team of the Year

The All Blacks received the Team of the Year Award for their rugby World Cup victory in England last year.

4. Laureus World Comeback of the Year award

Dan Carter, New Zealand’s fly-half, received the Laureus Comeback of the Year award for  his brilliant displays in the Rugby World Cup.

On receiving the award, the veteran number 10 said:

‘It’s nice to be recognised for the year I had in 2015,’

‘It was a very special year, not only for me, but also for the All Blacks and to be a part of that was amazing.’

5. Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year

The World Breakthrough of the Year award went to Golfer Jordan Spieth after winning his first 2 majors at the Masters 2015 and the US Open.

Spieth said: ‘Thank you so much to the Laureus Academy. Just to know a couple of you is an honour. For me it’s unique. We’re used to being recognised in the golfing community but this Award recognises us around the world to all of sport and it’s something that’s very difficult to put into words.’ 

6. Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a disability

Daniel Dias, the Brazilian Paralympic swimmer was awarded the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a disability award.

7. Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award

World Ironman champion and former Olympic Traithalon champion Jan Frodeno won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the year award. In 2015, the German became the first Olympic champion to win the Ironman World Championship.

Special awards

Laureus Spirit of Sport award

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, who sadly passed away in March, was awarded the Sprit of Sport award for his charity work. Former Barcelona and Spain captain Carles Puyol presented the award to Johan’s son, Jordi.

Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Formula 1 driver Nikki Lauda was awarded the Laureus Lifetime Achievement award