Usain Bolt, Simone Biles win 2016 Laureus Awards
Bolt All Stars Jamaican captain Usain Bolt competes in the 4x100 metres mixed relay during the Nitro Athletics meet in Melbourne on February 9, 2017. PHOTO | THEO KARANIKOS |
What you need to know:
- The two athletes were named in Monaco on Tuesday at a ceremony where the Olympic Refugee Team managed by Kenya’s legendary long distance runner Tegla Loroupe received the Laureus Sport for Good Award for Sporting Inspiration.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and gymnast Simone Biles from United States are the 2016 Laureus World Sportsman and Woman of the Year.
The two athletes were named in Monaco on Tuesday at a ceremony where the Olympic Refugee Team managed by Kenya’s legendary long distance runner Tegla Loroupe received the Laureus Sport for Good Award for Sporting Inspiration.
Bolt, who successfully defended his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles to leave Rio as one of the 2016 Olympic Games' biggest heroes, received the honour for a record-equalling fourth time.
The 30-year-old Jamaican, who won previously in 2009, 2010 and 2013, walked away with the ‘Oscar of Sports’ for the fourth time, joining tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and surfer Kelly Slater as four-time Laureus award winner.
Bolt received his award from legendary Michael Johnson, who teasingly urged him not to break other people’s records. To which Bolt responded by saying” “I am sorry to have broken your record.”
“Thanks for the wonderful award. Laureus is one of the biggest awards for me. This is my fourth award and to be equalling it with someone like Roger Federer is great. I am in great company. It is special,” he added.
Biles, the first woman to win four gymnastics gold medals in a single Olympic Games, was named Laureus Sportswoman of the Year.
US swimmer Michael Phelps won the Comeback of the Year honour after returning to competition at the Rio Games where he became the most decorated Olympian of all time.
The Refugee Team, which consisted of 10 athletes competing in three sports, was formed by the International Olympic Committee for the Olympics in Rio to "act as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide".
“This award is for the 65.4 million displaced people globally who cannot go to their homes because of strife,” said Loroupe, the team’s Chef de Mission.
Nico Rosberg of Germany, the reigning Formula One world champion, won the Breakthrough of the Year award.
Italy's Beatrice Vio, the only quadruple amputee competing in international wheelchair fencing, won the Disability Award.
