The Laureus Awards promote the Laureus organization’s mission to create social change through sport and sporting excellence, and from what I hear, receiving an award is a big deal. I just love Laureus for giving Sportsman of the Year to Roger Federer for 4 years in a row (‘05 – ‘08) and for not giving a crap about Michael Phelps and his stupid bong hit.
And given that Laureus is European, it’s always kind to our sport. Four tennis stars have been nominated for their achievements last year:
Rafael Nadal – Nominee for Sportsman of the Year (like, duh!)
I’d say he’s a shoe-in, but competition is tough since 2008 was an Olympic year. Fellow supermen like Phelps (swimming) and Usain Bolt (track) are on the list, along with Lewis Hamilton (motor racing), Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer), and Valentino Rossi (motor cycling). But I still think Rafa’s winning it.
Venus Williams – Nominee for Sportswoman of the Year
Venus won Wimbledon for the fifth time and an Olympic gold medal in doubles – is this “enough” against Tirunesh Dibaba (track), Yelena Isinbayeva (pole vaulting), Lorena Ochoa (golf), Lindsey Vonn (skiing), and Stephanie Rice (swimming)? Honestly, I have no idea.
Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic – Nominees for Breakthrough of the Year
Doesn’t it already feel like these two have been around forever? Besides each other, the Serbs are competing against Rebecca Adlington (swimming), Anthony Kim (golf), Sebastian Vettel (motor racing) and Zou Kai (gymnastics).
Nominees are selected by a selection panel of top sport’s media from 120 countries. Then members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, made up of 46 GOAT-tastic sportspeople, vote by secret ballot. Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Ilie Nastase, Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles are in this elite group of sportspeople.
There won’t be any glitzy ceremony this year because of the global economic flame-out. Awards will be presented to winners individually throughout May and June. Here’s footage from the May, 2006 awards ceremony, showing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal winning awards. Ah, those were the days. . .
VAMOS, RAFA!
Click here to visit the Laureus website.
Photo of Nadal winning 2005 Newcomer of the Year via rafaelnadal.com
Tags: Djokovic, Federer, Ivanovic, Laureus Awards, Nadal, Venus, venus williams, Video of the Day
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I think Rafa has a high chance to win this despite the stiff competition.
Personally I think Rafa has been a real sportsman and hero, trailing Roger consistently as the world no.2 for so many years and then finally ended Roger’s monopoly as the world no.1. That is not an overnight success. I hope the people at Laureus knows it’s not an easy task
Totally agreed! Rafa’s been so consistent and so good for so long – he obviously deserves it.
BUT I think he has a few issues going against him. 1. Roger’s won the past 4 years, so the panel may want to tgive it to another sport. 2. Phelps and Bolt are super popular as well.
We’ll see!
Agree with Hcfoo – Rafa all the way…
But I must be missing something, ‘Breakthrough of the year’ nominees, Ivanovic and Djokovic!? Are you kidding me?
Del Potro maybe or perhaps even Azarenka.
See, 1-2 years ago I’d have no problem with those choices. Now?
I don’t get it.
Ok im obviously not with it today – I guess their form since the middle of last year and the fact that they had their respective ‘tennis’ breakthroughs a year or two earlier (this isn’t after all all about tennis much as I’d like it to be) made me downplay the significance of their Slams.
I’d still argue in the case of Ivanovic that a breakthrough should mean you carry over some momentum throughout the year though.
(Off to get my head examined)
HA! Top Spin, I had the same reaction – I was like “what about SAFINA!?” But then I realized that it had to do with the Majors.
You guys said it all, there’s nothing more to add.
Vamos Rafa indeed! Rafa for the win!
…what? couldn’t hurt