Skydiver Baumgartner nominated for Laureus Sports Award

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who became the first human to go through the sound barrier when he made the highest ever freefall from 39km (24 miles) over New Mexico in October, has been nominated for the 2013 Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award, following a vote by the world’s media.

Baumgartner is one of six action stars who have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. The others are British BMX rider Jamie Bestwick, French Olympic mountain biker Julie Bresset, Australian surfers Stephanie Gilmore and Joel Parkinson and German windsurfer Philip Köster.

The winner will be announced at the Laureus World Sports Awards here March 11.

Also nominated in other categories are many of the great stars from the London Olympic Games, including Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Missy Franklin, Andy Murray, Michael Phelps, Ye Shiwen, Bradley Wiggins and Serena Williams.

Charismatic footballer Lionel Messi and Sebastian Vettel, winner of a third straight Formula One World Championship have also been selected. Messi has been nominated for the fourth straight time.