Tiger Woods missed out on the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to British Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Argentine football star Lionel Messi, who were named as joint winners during yesterday’s awards ceremony in Berlin.
Six-time world champion Hamilton and six-time FIFA World Player of the Year Messi were so close in terms of their achievements in 2019 that the Laureus World Sports Academy could not split them, with the voting being tied for the very first time in the 20-year history of the Laureus Awards.
Woods also lost out in the World Comeback of the Year category, with the award going to German F3 driver Sophia Flörsch who came back from a horrific accident at the 2018 Macau Grand Prix which left her requiring an 11-hour spinal surgery and months of rehabilitation. In November last year, a year on from her accident, the 18-year-old was back racing in the Macau Grand Prix.
Woods, who won the Masters last year for his 15th Major title and also matched Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins, has won the Sportsman of the Year accolade on two occasions in 2000 and 2001. He also won the Laureus Comeback of the Year award last year.
The 20th anniversary edition of the awards ceremony was hosted by British actor Hugh Grant. Past and present sports legends were treated to entertainment from singer-songwriter Liam Payne, a former member of One Direction.
Full list of winners:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Lewis Hamilton (F1) and Lionel Messi (football)
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles (gymnastics)
Laureus World Team of the Year: South Africa Men’s Rugby Team
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Egan Bernal (cycling)
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Sophia Flörsch (F3)
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Oksana Masters (rowing / skiing)
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Chloe Kim (snowboarding)
Laureus Best Sporting Moment: ‘Carried on the shoulders of a nation’ – Sachin Tendulkar (cricket)
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Dirk Nowitzki (basketball)
Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award: Spanish Basketball Federation
Laureus Sport for Good Award: South Bronx United (football)
For details, log on to laureus.com/world-sports-awards
