Usain Bolt, Serena Williams win Laureus Awards
12.03.2010
The Jamaican sprinter and three-time Olympic gold-medallist Usain Bolt (pictured) has been named as the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second year in a row, after continuing his amazing sprinting blitz in 2009 when he won three more gold medals at the World Championships.
US tennis star Serena Williams has won her second Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award, seven years after her first, following Grand Slam victories in Australia and at Wimbledon. It was her third Laureus Award in total, after also winning the Laureus Comeback Award in 2007.
Formula One was a big winner in Abu Dhabi as Britain's Jenson Button won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award following his first World Drivers' Championship, and the Brawn GP Formula One Team, for whom Button drove in 2009, was named Laureus World Team of the Year.
Belgium's Kim Clijsters won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award after her remarkable return to tennis in 2009 when she won the US Open Grand Slam title in only her third tournament following a two-year absence.
The South African swimmer Natalie du Toit, who is breaking down the barriers between disabled and able-bodied sport, received the Laureus Disability Award.
Meanwhile Australia's three-time World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore was named Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year.
The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 - December 31, 2009.
Photo - Nick Laham