Laureus Awards: Elaine Thompson-Herah, Max Verstappen Claim Top Prizes
Formula One champion Max Verstappen was named the 2022 Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah secured the top women’s honour at the digital awards ceremony in Seville, Spain.
Verstappen became the first Dutch driver to win the world championship when he clinched his maiden crown by beating seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the last race of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi in December.
🏆 The #Laureus22 World Sportsman of the Year Award winner is @Max33Verstappen
Max won his first @F1 Championship in thrilling style in 2021. The @redbullracing driver had ten Grand Prix wins during the year and a record 18 podium finishes 👏 pic.twitter.com/8QmjeyDcCr
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 24, 2022
“Since I was a little kid, I dreamt of being on the top step and winning the championship,” the 24-year-old Verstappen said. “The reaction back in Holland was amazing from all the newspapers and fans.”
“It’s something we’ll never forget. It was a lot of hard work and years of preparation. I’m incredibly proud. It means a lot to be recognised for this award, one of the highest ones in the world, so I’m incredibly happy.”
Elaine Thompson-Herah (Sportswoman of the Year)
Jamaica’s Thompson-Herah became the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic sprint doubles when she retained her 100m and 200m titles in Tokyo last year, and capped a memorable Games with gold in the 4x100m relay.
“I know Usain (Bolt) has won Laureus Awards before, so to bring this trophy back home to the Caribbean, also in Jamaica, is very special,” Thompson-Herah said.
“I have watched that (100m) race about a thousand times now. I would say I am very, very proud, but I cannot dwell on the past… My motivation is to be even better. I told myself that I want to be the greatest female sprinter.”
Italy (Team of the Year)
Italy’s football team were named Team of the Year for the second time after winning the 2020 European Championship, having previously received the honour after winning the World Cup in 2006.
Italy beat England on penalties to claim the title as European champions.
“Thank you for this outstanding Award,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini said on receiving the Laureus Award.
“I believe it should be shared with the whole team, with the Nazionale, with all the managers, all the players for all our good work in the 2021 season with the victory in the European Championship.”
“Also considering the importance of this prize, truly something to be shared with all the young people of the world,” Manchini added.
Robert Lewandowski (Exceptional Achievement Award)
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich won the Exceptional Achievement award after scoring a German Bundesliga record of 41 goals last season to break Gerd Muller’s 49-year-old mark.
Lewandowski also claimed the German Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich after beating rivals Borussia Dortmund 3-1 last weekend.
List of winners
Sportsman of the Year: Max Verstappen
Sportswoman of the Year: Elaine Thompson-Herah
Team of the Year: Italy men’s soccer team
Breakthrough of the Year: Emma Raducanu
Comeback of the Year: Sky Brown
Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Marcel Hug
Action Sportsperson of the Year: Bethany Shriever
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Brady
Exceptional Achievement Award: Robert Lewandowski
Sporting Icon Award: Valentino Rossi
Sport for Good Award: Lost Boyz Inc.
Sport for Good Society Award: Real Madrid Foundation
Athlete Advocate of the Year : Gerald Asamoah and the Black Eagles.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters/Laureus.
