NOVAK DJOKOVIC, USAIN Bolt and Lionel Messi are among the six nominees for the Laureus Awards in the category of Best Male Athlete of 2015, the foundation announced today.
The 17th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards, which honour the prowess of the planet’s best sportsmen and women, will be held on 18 April in Berlin.
Djokovic, who won three Grand Slam titles, Bolt, who won three gold medals at the world athletics championships, and Messi, who won the 2015 Ballon d’Or, are joined by Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton, American basketballer Stephen Curry and golfer Jordan Spieth.
US tennis star Serena Williams, who came close to winning all four Grand Slam titles, is among the six nominations for the women’s trophy.
New Zealand’s rugby team, the All Blacks, are in the running for the team award having successfully defended their crown at the 2015 Rugby World Cup hosted by England.
Nominees
Sportsman: Usain Bolt (athletics), Stephen Curry (basketball), Novak Djokovic (tennis), Lewis Hamilton (motorsport), Lionel Messi (football), Jordan Spieth (golf).
Sportswoman: Genzebe Dibaba (athletics), Anna Fenninger (skiing), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (athletics), Katie Ledecky (swimming), Carli Lloyd (football), Serena Williams (tennis)
Team: All Blacks (rugby), Barcelona (football), Golden State Warriors (basketball), Great Britain Davis Cup team (tennis), Mercedes Formula One team (motorsport), US women’s team (football).
Comeback: Dan Carter (rugby), Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics), Mick Fanning (surfing), Michael Phelps (swimming), David Rudisha (athletics), Lindsey Vonn (skiing)
Breakthrough: Chile men’s team (football), Jason Day (golf), Tyson Fury (boxing), Adam Peaty (swimming), Jordan Spieth (golf), Max Vestappen (motorsport)
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Philly McMahon not even nominated….dubs be fuming
I would like to see it go to one of Spieth, Curry or Messi (in no particular order). All three have had unprecedented years in their respective sports. I can’t consider Lewis Hamilton because he’s a driver and not for me technically an athlete for that reason, also comes across as a smug pr*ck.
And Spieth is an athlete? I’d imagine F1 driving is more physically demanding than playing golf
Any F1 driver would be far fitter than even the fittest golfer. Golfers just walk around an F1 drive machines that most people couldn’t even start and have their bodies pushed to the limit for up to 2 hours.
Conor mcG for breakthrough surely?
I imagine the type of people that run and organise these awards are the type to look down their noses at MMA.
Djokovic or curry should get it
Also Hamilton shouldn’t be there, not really an athlete
I bet Ronaldo will be doin a fair sulk after that announcement
Japan rugby not nominated for breakthrough?
The supreme leader Kim Jong-un will be disappointed at not being nominated.
Dibaba is such a wonderful athlete, should win !
Bruce Jenner
Messi.
Messi is the greatest athlete of all time so it should be him by default.
Mick Fanning should get the “you lucky bxstard” award
Messi
Dibaba
Golden state
Fanning
Spieth
Messi or Spieth.