He conquers
Mountaineer Xia Boyu wins Sporting Moment of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Salle des Etoiles, Monaco, on Monday.
Chinese climber Xia Boyu won the 2019 Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year award on Monday for conquering Qomolangma, aka Mount Everest, on his fifth attempt.
The 69-year-old double amputee, who lost both his legs to frostbite during a 1975 expedition on the Himalayan peak, came out top in a global vote, beating competition from an initial list of 10 nominees that was whittled down to three finalists earlier this month.
After his initial ill-fated attempt on Qomolangma, Xia renewed the challenge in 2014, 2015 and 2016, but saw his dreams shattered by an avalanche, an earthquake and adverse weather, respectively.
He finally made it to the top on May 14 last year.
“Reaching the summit of Qomolangma has always been a dream and a goal for me. I have fought for it over the past decades. Despite bad knocks several times, I never gave up. I think the perseverance made my life so colorful and meaningful,” Xia told Chinese media.
He added that his next goal will be “7+2” — climbing the highest summit on each of the seven continents, plus trekking to the North and South Poles.
Golfer Tiger Woods, tennis titan Novak Djokovic, skier Lindsey Vonn and the France men’s soccer team were also winners at the awards ceremony in Monaco, with Woods claiming the Comeback Award 19 years after he was first earned a Laureus prize.
Djokovic matched sprint superstar Usain Bolt’s record by being named World Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time, in recognition of his Wimbledon and US Open wins.
American Vonn, who was forced to retire earlier this month due to injury, took home the Spirit of Sport Award, which is given to an athlete of relentless dedication, while Les Bleus were honored for winning soccer’s World Cup in July.
American Simone Biles was named World Sportswoman of the Year for winning four gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the gymnastics world championships.
Rising Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka won the Breakthrough Award in recognition of her US Open triumph, which she followed up with her second Grand Slam in Australia last month.