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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The annual Laureus World Sports Awards is now considered the ‘Oscars’ of sport and recognises a variety of athletes, abled and disabled, in seven major categories.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa has no nominees this year, but in the past, the Springboks have won World Team of the Year twice (2008, 2020) following their Rugby World Cup wins the previous year. Rugby player Schalk Burger won the “Comeback of the Year” title in 2015 after a near-death experience following surgery to remove a cyst from his spine.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six nominees have been selected in each of seven categories and the names of the Winners will be revealed in April, following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy — the world’s ultimate sports jury — made up of 71 of the greatest sporting legends of all time.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Athletes of the year</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The battle for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award will be one of the most competitive ever. The recently retired Tom Brady, the NFL’s greatest-ever quarterback could be an emotional winner.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is nominated along with Bayern Munich’s prolific goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, new Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, tennis world No 1 Novak Djokovic, and two of the greatest Olympians: swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who won five gold medals in Tokyo 2020, and Eliud Kipchoge, who won back-to-back marathon gold medals.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1165746\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Max-Verstappen_SI202112120679_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1143\" /> Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great track runner and Laureus Academy Member Sebastian Coe appeared to reveal his choice: “I think we have to conclude that Eliud Kipchoge is now the greatest marathon runner of all time. I had the great privilege of watching him win his Olympic title in Sapporo. He was so in command of that race that day. His contribution to athletics is Muhammad Ali-esque.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several historic Olympic performances dominate the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award category.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elaine Thompson-Herah matched fellow Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt with gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 metres relay with her haul in Tokyo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sprinter Allyson Felix passed Carl Lewis as the most decorated track and field US Olympian in Tokyo and is up for the award. Third nominee, Australian swimmer Emma McKeon’s four gold and three bronze medals in Tokyo tied the record for the most won by a woman in a single Olympic Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American swimmer Katie Ledecky won two more gold and two silver medals in Tokyo to add to her list of achievements. Also short-listed are world No 1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty, who won Wimbledon in 2021 and recently won the 2022 Australian Open (although that doesn’t form part of this nomination cycle), and Alexia Putellas, captain of FC Barcelona’s Women’s Team. Putellas was named 2021 FIFA Women’s Footballer of the Year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laureus Academy Member and athletics legend Michael Johnson said: “There’s another athlete who just completely dominated their sport last year. Elaine Thompson-Herah, 100 metres, 200 metres, repeating as champion, which is very difficult to do, and threatening one of the oldest and most impressive world records in the books, the women’s 100 metres. I mean, we haven’t talked about anyone threatening that record for years.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thompson-Herah clocked 10.54 in a meeting in Eugene, Oregan last year, which is the closest anyone has come to the record of 10.49 set by late US sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Breaking through</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britain’s Emma Raducanu became a global tennis sensation when she won the US Open at the age of 18, and unsurprisingly she is one of the nominees for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award, along with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who won the men’s title.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other nominees are Neeraj Chopra, India’s first winner of an Olympic athletics gold medal, Spanish football prodigy Pedri — at 19 voted best young player at the Ballon d’Or — Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, who broke the triple jump world record which had stood for 26 years, and Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who made her Olympic debut at 20, beating defending champion Katie Ledecky at both 200 and 400 metres in the swimming pool.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nominees for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award include several sporting giants and one brilliant youngster. The indomitable gymnast Simone Biles showed her courage and determination to come back to win a bronze medal on the beam in Tokyo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyclist Mark Cavendish fought back from mental and physical health problems to equal Eddie Merckx’s record of 34 Tour de France stage wins.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diver Tom Daley had knee surgery in June, but still won his first-ever Olympic diving gold medal, eight-time MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez celebrated his first Grand Prix win for 581 days after a broken arm, and Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten won the Olympic time trial three days after missing out on road race gold.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most talented of a thrilling group of young skateboarders, Sky Brown, recovered from a skull fracture to win a bronze medal in Tokyo, at the age of just 13 years and 28 days.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1165745\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Italy-Football-Team_A_GettyImages-1328222898.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"397\" /> Players of Italy celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The brilliant Italy Men’s Football Team are among the frontrunners for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award after their victory in Euro 2020.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two other football Nominees: the Argentina Men’s Football Team, including Lionel Messi, who won the Copa America; and FC Barcelona Women’s Football Team, who won their first Champions League.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are joined by the China Olympic Diving Team, who won gold medals in seven of the eight events, the Milwaukee Bucks, inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended their 50-year wait for a second NBA championship, and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team which won a record eighth consecutive Constructors’ World Championship.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy coach Roberto Mancini said: “We are very excited to be nominated for this important Laureus Award and, on behalf of the team, I thank the world’s media for their support.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Italy last won this Award after the 2006 World Cup win. That was a massive day for Italian football — and I believe that what we achieved last year was perhaps even more important for so many reasons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Italian football was not in a good place after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and the country was suffering with many problems caused by the Covid pandemic. But the national team is a symbol of a country that in difficult moments has always known how to get up again. So, thank you Laureus for understanding that.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Full Nominees list</b>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Tom Brady </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) American Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Novak Djokovic </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Serbia) Tennis</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Caeleb Dressel </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Eliud Kipchoge </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Kenya) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Robert Lewandowski </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Poland) Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Max Verstappen </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Motor Racing</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Ashleigh Barty </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Tennis</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Allyson Felix </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Katie Ledecky </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Emma McKeon </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Alexia Putellas </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Elaine Thompson-Herah </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Jamaica) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Argentina Men’s Football Team — </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">won Copa America</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Barcelona Women’s Football Team </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) — won first Champions League, beating English club Chelsea 4-0</span>\r\n\r\n<b>China Olympic Diving Team</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won gold medals in seven of the eight events staged in the pool in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Italy Men’s Football Team</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won European Championship for first time since 1968</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team (Germany)</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won record eighth Constructors Championship</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Milwaukee Bucks (US) Basketball</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> – inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo, won a second NBA championship</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Neeraj Chopra </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(India) Athletics — won javelin to become India’s first winner of an Olympic athletics gold</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Daniil Medvedev </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Russia) Tennis — won his first ever Grand Slam </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Pedri </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Football — 19, played 53 times in 2020/21 for Barcelona, and every game for Spain in Euro 2020</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Emma Raducanu </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Tennis — became a global sensation when she won the US Open at the age of 18</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Yulimar Rojas </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Venezuela) Athletics — broke 26-year-old world record to win triple jump gold in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Ariarne Titmus </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Swimming — aged 20, beat champion Katie Ledecky at 200 and 400m in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD COMEBACK OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Simone Biles </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Gymnastics — after withdrawing in Tokyo, she came back to win bronze in the beam</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Sky Brown </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Skateboarding — aged 13, recovered from fractured skull to win bronze medal in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Cavendish </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Cycling — fought back from depression to win second Tour de France sprint title</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Tom Daley </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Diving — had knee surgery in June, but won 10 metres synchronised gold in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Marc Márquez </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Motor Cycling — first win in 581 days, after recovering from broken arm at start of 2020</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Annemiek van Vleuten </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Cycling — won Olympic time trial days after missing gold in road race</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Diede De Groot </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Wheelchair Tennis </span><b>— </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first player to complete the calendar-year Golden Slam</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Marcel Hug </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Switzerland) Wheelchair Athletics </span><b>— </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">won Paralympic gold medals in 800, 1,500, 5,000m and marathon</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Shingo Kunieda </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Wheelchair Tennis — host-nation hero, won fourth Paralympic gold of his career</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Jetze Plat </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Para Cycling / Para Triathlon — won three Paralympic gold medals in two sports</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Susana Rodríguez </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Para Triathlon — won gold in Tokyo in triathlon PTVI, her first Paralympic medal</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Sarah Storey </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Para Cycling — won three golds from three events to take her career total to 17</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD ACTION SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Ítalo Ferreira </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Brazil) Surfing — in Tokyo became the first-ever surfing Olympic gold medal winner</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Alberto Ginés </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Climbing — aged 18, scaled 15-metre wall in 6.42 seconds to win speed climbing gold</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Yuto Horigome </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Skateboarding — won first ever skateboarding Olympic gold to delight of host nation</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Carissa Moore </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Surfing — won first-ever women’s Olympic surfing gold, then added her fifth world title</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Momiji Nishiya </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Skateboarding — at 13, won first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's street event</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Bethany Shriever </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) BMX — first woman to win both Olympic and World Championship gold in same year</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Programmes shortlisted by a specialist selection panel; Laureus Academy select the winner</span></i>\r\n\r\n<b>Ich will da rauf! </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Germany) Climbing — disabled and non-disabled share challenge of the climbing wall</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Jucà Pe Cagnà </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Italy) Multi-sport — provides safe places to play away from the influence of crime</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Kick 4 Life </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Lesotho) Football — supports young people through health education and HIV testing</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Lost Boyz Inc. </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Baseball/Softball — works in Chicago to decrease violence and improve social conditions</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Monkey Magic </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Climbing — </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">promotes free climbing for those with visual impairment</span>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The annual Laureus World Sports Awards is now considered the ‘Oscars’ of sport and recognises a variety of athletes, abled and disabled, in seven major categories.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa has no nominees this year, but in the past, the Springboks have won World Team of the Year twice (2008, 2020) following their Rugby World Cup wins the previous year. Rugby player Schalk Burger won the “Comeback of the Year” title in 2015 after a near-death experience following surgery to remove a cyst from his spine.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six nominees have been selected in each of seven categories and the names of the Winners will be revealed in April, following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy — the world’s ultimate sports jury — made up of 71 of the greatest sporting legends of all time.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Athletes of the year</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The battle for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award will be one of the most competitive ever. The recently retired Tom Brady, the NFL’s greatest-ever quarterback could be an emotional winner.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is nominated along with Bayern Munich’s prolific goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, new Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, tennis world No 1 Novak Djokovic, and two of the greatest Olympians: swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who won five gold medals in Tokyo 2020, and Eliud Kipchoge, who won back-to-back marathon gold medals.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165746\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1165746\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Max-Verstappen_SI202112120679_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1143\" /> Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great track runner and Laureus Academy Member Sebastian Coe appeared to reveal his choice: “I think we have to conclude that Eliud Kipchoge is now the greatest marathon runner of all time. I had the great privilege of watching him win his Olympic title in Sapporo. He was so in command of that race that day. His contribution to athletics is Muhammad Ali-esque.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several historic Olympic performances dominate the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award category.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elaine Thompson-Herah matched fellow Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt with gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 metres relay with her haul in Tokyo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sprinter Allyson Felix passed Carl Lewis as the most decorated track and field US Olympian in Tokyo and is up for the award. Third nominee, Australian swimmer Emma McKeon’s four gold and three bronze medals in Tokyo tied the record for the most won by a woman in a single Olympic Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American swimmer Katie Ledecky won two more gold and two silver medals in Tokyo to add to her list of achievements. Also short-listed are world No 1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty, who won Wimbledon in 2021 and recently won the 2022 Australian Open (although that doesn’t form part of this nomination cycle), and Alexia Putellas, captain of FC Barcelona’s Women’s Team. Putellas was named 2021 FIFA Women’s Footballer of the Year.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laureus Academy Member and athletics legend Michael Johnson said: “There’s another athlete who just completely dominated their sport last year. Elaine Thompson-Herah, 100 metres, 200 metres, repeating as champion, which is very difficult to do, and threatening one of the oldest and most impressive world records in the books, the women’s 100 metres. I mean, we haven’t talked about anyone threatening that record for years.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thompson-Herah clocked 10.54 in a meeting in Eugene, Oregan last year, which is the closest anyone has come to the record of 10.49 set by late US sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Breaking through</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Britain’s Emma Raducanu became a global tennis sensation when she won the US Open at the age of 18, and unsurprisingly she is one of the nominees for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award, along with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who won the men’s title.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other nominees are Neeraj Chopra, India’s first winner of an Olympic athletics gold medal, Spanish football prodigy Pedri — at 19 voted best young player at the Ballon d’Or — Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, who broke the triple jump world record which had stood for 26 years, and Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who made her Olympic debut at 20, beating defending champion Katie Ledecky at both 200 and 400 metres in the swimming pool.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nominees for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award include several sporting giants and one brilliant youngster. The indomitable gymnast Simone Biles showed her courage and determination to come back to win a bronze medal on the beam in Tokyo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyclist Mark Cavendish fought back from mental and physical health problems to equal Eddie Merckx’s record of 34 Tour de France stage wins.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diver Tom Daley had knee surgery in June, but still won his first-ever Olympic diving gold medal, eight-time MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez celebrated his first Grand Prix win for 581 days after a broken arm, and Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten won the Olympic time trial three days after missing out on road race gold.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most talented of a thrilling group of young skateboarders, Sky Brown, recovered from a skull fracture to win a bronze medal in Tokyo, at the age of just 13 years and 28 days.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1165745\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1165745\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Italy-Football-Team_A_GettyImages-1328222898.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"397\" /> Players of Italy celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The brilliant Italy Men’s Football Team are among the frontrunners for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award after their victory in Euro 2020.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two other football Nominees: the Argentina Men’s Football Team, including Lionel Messi, who won the Copa America; and FC Barcelona Women’s Football Team, who won their first Champions League.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are joined by the China Olympic Diving Team, who won gold medals in seven of the eight events, the Milwaukee Bucks, inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended their 50-year wait for a second NBA championship, and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team which won a record eighth consecutive Constructors’ World Championship.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Italy coach Roberto Mancini said: “We are very excited to be nominated for this important Laureus Award and, on behalf of the team, I thank the world’s media for their support.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Italy last won this Award after the 2006 World Cup win. That was a massive day for Italian football — and I believe that what we achieved last year was perhaps even more important for so many reasons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Italian football was not in a good place after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and the country was suffering with many problems caused by the Covid pandemic. But the national team is a symbol of a country that in difficult moments has always known how to get up again. So, thank you Laureus for understanding that.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Full Nominees list</b>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Tom Brady </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) American Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Novak Djokovic </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Serbia) Tennis</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Caeleb Dressel </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Eliud Kipchoge </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Kenya) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Robert Lewandowski </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Poland) Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Max Verstappen </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Motor Racing</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Ashleigh Barty </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Tennis</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Allyson Felix </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Katie Ledecky </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Emma McKeon </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Swimming</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Alexia Putellas </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Football</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Elaine Thompson-Herah </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Jamaica) Athletics</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Argentina Men’s Football Team — </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">won Copa America</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Barcelona Women’s Football Team </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) — won first Champions League, beating English club Chelsea 4-0</span>\r\n\r\n<b>China Olympic Diving Team</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won gold medals in seven of the eight events staged in the pool in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Italy Men’s Football Team</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won European Championship for first time since 1968</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team (Germany)</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — won record eighth Constructors Championship</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Milwaukee Bucks (US) Basketball</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> – inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo, won a second NBA championship</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Neeraj Chopra </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(India) Athletics — won javelin to become India’s first winner of an Olympic athletics gold</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Daniil Medvedev </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Russia) Tennis — won his first ever Grand Slam </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Pedri </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Football — 19, played 53 times in 2020/21 for Barcelona, and every game for Spain in Euro 2020</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Emma Raducanu </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Tennis — became a global sensation when she won the US Open at the age of 18</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Yulimar Rojas </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Venezuela) Athletics — broke 26-year-old world record to win triple jump gold in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Ariarne Titmus </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Australia) Swimming — aged 20, beat champion Katie Ledecky at 200 and 400m in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </span>\r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD COMEBACK OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Simone Biles </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Gymnastics — after withdrawing in Tokyo, she came back to win bronze in the beam</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Sky Brown </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Skateboarding — aged 13, recovered from fractured skull to win bronze medal in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Mark Cavendish </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Cycling — fought back from depression to win second Tour de France sprint title</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Tom Daley </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Diving — had knee surgery in June, but won 10 metres synchronised gold in Tokyo</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Marc Márquez </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Motor Cycling — first win in 581 days, after recovering from broken arm at start of 2020</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Annemiek van Vleuten </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Cycling — won Olympic time trial days after missing gold in road race</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Diede De Groot </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Wheelchair Tennis </span><b>— </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first player to complete the calendar-year Golden Slam</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Marcel Hug </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Switzerland) Wheelchair Athletics </span><b>— </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">won Paralympic gold medals in 800, 1,500, 5,000m and marathon</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Shingo Kunieda </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Wheelchair Tennis — host-nation hero, won fourth Paralympic gold of his career</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Jetze Plat </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Netherlands) Para Cycling / Para Triathlon — won three Paralympic gold medals in two sports</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Susana Rodríguez </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Para Triathlon — won gold in Tokyo in triathlon PTVI, her first Paralympic medal</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Sarah Storey </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) Para Cycling — won three golds from three events to take her career total to 17</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS WORLD ACTION SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<b>Ítalo Ferreira </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Brazil) Surfing — in Tokyo became the first-ever surfing Olympic gold medal winner</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Alberto Ginés </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Spain) Climbing — aged 18, scaled 15-metre wall in 6.42 seconds to win speed climbing gold</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Yuto Horigome </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Skateboarding — won first ever skateboarding Olympic gold to delight of host nation</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Carissa Moore </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Surfing — won first-ever women’s Olympic surfing gold, then added her fifth world title</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Momiji Nishiya </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Skateboarding — at 13, won first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's street event</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Bethany Shriever </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UK) BMX — first woman to win both Olympic and World Championship gold in same year</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<b>LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD AWARD</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Programmes shortlisted by a specialist selection panel; Laureus Academy select the winner</span></i>\r\n\r\n<b>Ich will da rauf! </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Germany) Climbing — disabled and non-disabled share challenge of the climbing wall</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Jucà Pe Cagnà </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Italy) Multi-sport — provides safe places to play away from the influence of crime</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Kick 4 Life </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Lesotho) Football — supports young people through health education and HIV testing</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Lost Boyz Inc. </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(US) Baseball/Softball — works in Chicago to decrease violence and improve social conditions</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Monkey Magic </b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Japan) Climbing — </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">promotes free climbing for those with visual impairment</span>",
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Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Players of Italy celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)