The Serbian Novak Djokovic was chosen as the athlete of the year at the Laureus sports awards ceremony, which was held in Madrid, ahead of Lionel Messistriker for Inter Miami, and the Formula 1 world champion, the Dutchman Max Verstappen.
In addition, the winners of the five remaining categories by the Laureus World Sports Academy, which distinguishes the best athletes in the world for the merits achieved during the previous year. The 2024 Laureus Awards gala was held at the Cibeles Palace, in the Spanish capital.
Deja vu by Novak Djokovic
“I am incredibly honored to have won my fifth” award, he said. Novak Djokovic. And he added: “I go back to 2012, when I won it for the first time when I was 24 years old. I’m very proud to be here twelve years later.” Winner of the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open in 2023, the Serbian commented that he hopes to be able to “play at least one more time” against Rafael Nadalbefore the Spaniard retires, and warned that his goal is to achieve “the perfect level of tennis” after an irregular start to this season.
“I have a lot of respect for Rafa, he is a good person and a legend of our sport, he is my most important rival. In Australia I said that I hoped we could see him in one or two tournaments and I hope to be able to play with him at least one more time,” said the world No. 1 before the press.
Laureus Awards: the other winners
Other winners in the celebration of the so-called Oscar of sport were Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid forward, who received the award for best revelation athlete. The best international female athlete of the year was the Catalan soccer player Aitana Bonmatí, who became world champion with Spain in 2023, having won the Champions League with Barcelona. Also the Ballon d’Or and The Best.
The Catalan soccer player referred to the award and expressed: “Last year was incredible for me and my teammates, both from my club and the national team. “I’m here for the collective, so thanks to my colleagues who have helped me a lot,” he said. Aitana Bonmatíwho received the trophy in the hands of Usain Bolt and the former American skier Lindsey Vonn. It is worth noting that the Spanish women’s soccer team was awarded as the best team in 2023, a distinction that in last year’s award went to the Argentine team that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In other awards that were presented, the American gymnast Simone Biles He received, from a distance, the trophy for the best comeback of the year. For its part, the Spanish Rafael Nadal He was honored for his foundation and his educational projects in India and Spain. On the other hand, the Australian skater Arisa Trew, 13 years old, was chosen as the best action athlete of the year. Finally, the Dutch Groot’s Diedea wheelchair tennis player, won the award for best athlete of the year with a disability.
Source: Ambito
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