SA's Van Dyk stars at Laureus
2006-05-22 20:17
Barcelona - Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer was named Laureus World Sportsman of the year for the second straight year here on Monday with the women's honour going to Croatian skier Janica Kostelic.
South African wheelchair racing athlete Ernst van Dyk has won the Sportsperson of the Year award for an athlete with a disability.
The 24-year-old Federer won the vote of Laureus Academy members ahead of other nominees such as US golfer Tiger Woods, Spanish F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho and seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
The 23-year-old Kostelic edged out Britain's world marathon champion Paula Radcliffe, Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva, Swedish heptathlete Carolina Kluft and Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters.
There were awards also for Martina Hingis who took the Laureus Comeback of the Year recompense, Spanish tyro Rafael Nadal who was named Newcomer of the Year and the French Formula One Constructors Champions Renault who won Team of the Year.