It’s raining laurels at Laureus

BARCELONA, (Spain): He may not be in the best of form ahead of the French Open but this should cheer him up. Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer was named ‘Laureus World Sportsman’ of the year for the second straight year on Monday.

The women’s honour went to Croatian skier Janica Kostelic, who became the first woman to win four Alpine skiing gold medals after her win in the Winter Olympics in Turin.

The 24-year-old Federer won the vote of the 42 Laureus Academy members ahead of other nominees such as another two-time winner US golfer Tiger Woods, Spanish F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho and seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

There were awards also for Martina Hingis who took the ‘Laureus Comeback of the Year’ recompense, Spanish tyro Rafael Nadal who was named ‘Newcomer of the Year’, Renault who won ‘Team of the Year’ and Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.