Malta Independent

Roger Federer named World Sportsman of the Year 2017

- Roger Federer Also Also Also Also nominated: nominated: nominated: nominated: Roger Federer Also nominated: Also nominated: Also nominated: Also nominated:

Twenty-time tennis grand slam champion Roger Federer has won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards.

The 36-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 after nearly five years without a major.

"I didn't believe I would ever come back to this level," said Federer. "The year I had was something else."

Serena Williams took the World Sportswoma­n of the Year award after winning her 23rd grand slam in 2017.

"This means the world to me," added world number one Federer.

"The comebacks are always extremely emotional. Last year was a dream come true."

Formula 1 constructo­rs' champions Mercedes picked up the Team of the Year accolade, and wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug won Sportspers­on of the Year with a Disability.

"There's so much expertise in all parts of our team, I feel so proud to be a part of it," said Mercedes' world champion Lewis Hamilton

Also at the ceremony in Monaco, golfer Sergio Garcia secured the Breakthrou­gh prize following his Masters success, while recently-retired Roma forward Francesco Totti clinched the Laureus Academy Exceptiona­l Achievemen­t award.

Brazilian football club Chapecoens­e were given the Best Sporting Moment of the Year for their response in adversity following a plane crash in 2016 in which they lost the majority of their team.

Sportsman of the Year award

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) football, Mo Farah (GB) athletics, Chris Froome (GB) cycling, Lewis Hamilton (GB) Formula 1, Rafael Nadal (Spain) tennis.

Sportswoma­n of the Year award

Serena Williams

Garbine Muguruza (Spain) tennis, Caster Semenya (South Africa) athletics, Allyson Felix (US) athletics, Katie Ledecky (US) swimming, Mikaela Shiffrin (US) alpine skiing.

Team of the Year

Mercedes

France's Davis Cup team (tennis), Golden State Warriors (basketball), New England Patriots (American football), New Zealand's America's Cup team (sailing), Real Madrid (football).

Breakthrou­gh of the Year

Sergio Garcia

Anthony Joshua (GB) boxing, Kylian Mbappe (France) football, Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) tennis, Giannis Antetokoun­mpo (Greece) basketball, Caeleb Dressel (US) swimming.

Comeback of the Year

FC Barcelona (Spain) football, Valentino Rossi (Italy) motorsport, Sally Pearson (Australia) athletics, Justin Gatlin (US) athletics, Chapecoens­e (Brazil) football.

Sportspers­on of the Year with a Disability

Marcel Hug

Yui Kamiji (Japan) wheelchair tennis, Oksana Masters (US) cross-country skiing, Bibian Mentel-Spee (Netherland­s) snowboardi­ng, Jetze Plat (Netherland­s) ironman, Markus Rehm (Germany) long jump.

Action Sportspers­on of the Year

Armel Le Cleac'h

Tyler Wright (Australia) surfing, John John Florence (US) surfing, Anna Gasser (Austria) snowboardi­ng, Mark McMorris (Canada) snowboardi­ng, Nyjah Huston (US) skateboard­ing.

Best Sporting Moment of the Year

Chapecoens­e

The Iowa Hawkeyes and the 'Kinnick Wave' (US) American football, Bradley Lowery and his special bond with Jermain Defoe (GB) football, Kimi Raikkonen and his six-year-old fan Thomas Danel (Finland) Formula 1, Billy Monger (GB) motorsport.

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