Novak Djokovic Wins Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Image: Daily Mail

The world’s number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic, won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award during a ceremony in London. The Serbian athlete won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open grand slam titles in 2011.

Djokovic’s accomplishments were honored during the award ceremony that was attended by other sports-affiliated celebrities such as five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, former Ajax and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff.

The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award was presented to Djokovic just one week after winning his Australian Open crown. “It’s been a week and I think physically I’m recovering. At this age,” he said, “there are no excuses. I have to recover.”

Of his award win, Djokovic said, “I have to say it’s an extreme pleasure being part of such a great event. It’s a spectacular feeling. It’s difficult to describe how good it feels in words for me, for my family.”

The lifetime achievement award was presented to Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton while “Blade Runner” athelete Oscar Pistorius took home the Laureus disability award for becoming the first amputee to win a track medal in a non-disabled World Championships. The Sportswoman of the year award went to Kenyan long-distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot.

Source: Daily Mail

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