Nadal declared 'crown prince'
2008-09-03 12:58
Madrid - Spain's men's tennis world number one Rafael Nadal was awarded the Prince of Asturias prize for sport, the jury announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the jury praised the 22-year-old for his "commitment to the most noble sports values both in and outside of the court" and his development and charity work in favour of the underprivileged.
Nadal took the crown ahead of fellow Olympic champions Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Jamaica's 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt and the Spanish national football team which won the Euro 2008 tournament.
Nadal officially became the new world number one last month, ending Swiss superstar Roger Federer's run of 237 weeks atop the ATP rankings.
He has won eight titles this season including his fourth French Open crown and first Wimbledon trophy - the latter a marathon epic effort to dethrone Federer - along with the Olympic gold medal and is presently competing to win the US Open title.
Specially commissioned
Eight Prince of Asturias prizes worth 50 000 euros apiece are awarded each year in categories such as arts, scientific research, sports, letters and humanities.
The recipients also receive a specially commissioned Joan Miro sculpture, a diploma and an insignia.
Named after Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, they are presented each fall in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo, capital of the Asturias region.
The Prince of Asturias prize for sport was awarded last year to Germany's seven times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.
Past winners of the Prince of Asturias prize for sport have also included retired US athletics legend Carl Lewis and US naturalised Czech-born tennis ace Martina Navratilova.