Federer picks up Laureus award
Federer picks up Laureus award
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Monday, 22, May 2006 09:29
Roger Federer has been named World Sportsman of the Year for the second successive year at the Laureus World Sport Awards in Barcelona.
The men's world number one beat off Formula One champion Fernando Alonso, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, World Footballer of the Year Ronaldinho, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi and golf's world number one Tiger Woods for the accolade.
The award was presented by former Wimbledon and US Open champion John McEnroe, who insisted that Federer had the potential to become the greatest tennis player of all time.
"Roger Federer is the outstanding tennis player of his generation, in fact he is probably the outstanding individual sportsman of his generation across all sports," McEnroe said.
"He has all the shots, but his mental resolve seems greater than other players and that's why you rarely see him losing a final once he has reached it."
Croatian Janica Kostelic beat six other contenders, including British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, to be named World Sportswoman of the Year after becoming the most successful alpine skier in Winter Olympics history at the Turin games.
Liverpool were beaten to Team of the Year by F1 constructors' champions Renault, while tennis also produced the Newcomer of the Year and Comeback of the Year, with Rafael Nadal and Martina Hingis picking up the respective awards.
Former Holland and Barcelona striker Johan Cruyff was given a Lifetime Achievement award.
There were also awards for South African wheelchair racer Ersnt van Dyk, who picked up Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, while hang-glider Angelo d'Arrigo, who was killed in an air crash in March, was named Alternative Sportsperson of the Year.