Rosberg outpaces Wayde for award
THE fastest set of legs over the 400m was beaten by a man on four wheels as Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg was named as the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year ahead of Wayde van Niekerk.
Jamaican sprinting icon Usain Bolt and American gymnast Simone Biles were named Laureus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively.
Rosberg finished second in the Formula One World Championship behind Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in consecutive years before making his breakthrough last year.
The now-retired German race driver beat the likes of Van Niekerk, Ethiopian 10 000m world-record breaker Almaz Ayana, English Premier League champion Leicester City, European Championship quarter-finalists Iceland and Olympic Rugby Sevens gold medallists Fiji.
“To me it is just a massive privilege and a honour to be nominated with the guys, whatever happens tonight I am grateful I was here,” Van Niekerk said ahead of the evening’s awards.
It is the second major award Van Niekerk missed out on after legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the male IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2016.
Van Niekerk still has the award for Best Male Athlete of the 2016 Rio Games, made by the Association of International Olympic Committees he received last year.
The South Africa-based charity Waves for Change waved the country’s flag when it was awarded the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
The organisation harnesses the power of surfing as a form of therapy to vulnerable children in informal settlements such as Masiphumelele and Khayelitsha.
Meanwhile, retired American swimming sensation Michael Phelps received yet another accolade, walking away with the Comeback of the Year Award. Speaking after receiving his award, the most decorated Olympian of all time said losing his 200m butterfly crown at the London 2012 Games played a major role in his comeback in 2014.
“I thought if I win the 200m fly in London I probably wouldn’t come back, and (now) I can look back on my career and say the 200m fly in Rio was probably my greatest race in my Olympic career,” Phelps said.
“I didn’t think I was going to swim that race at the Olympics and things started to start to come together. “I don’t think I ever had to dig that deep for a race ever in my career and that is something I was proud to have back after the loss in 2012. “But I can say I am excited to see what Chad (Le Clos) does over the next four years.”
Phelps went on to add five more gold medals at the Rio Games beating Le Clos in the 200m butterfly with the South African missing out on a podium spot in the race. – Ockert de Villiers