Woods, Freeman best in the world

MONTE CARLO, MAY 23. Tiger Woods, who won three of last year's four golfing majors, was voted the 2001 Sportsman of the Year at the second annual Laureus World Sports Awards in Monte Carlo on Tuesday night.

Woods, also the 2000 winner, edged out five-time Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Redgrave, Dutch swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband, Formula-1 world champion Michael Schumacher and Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe for the prestigious title.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, the first truly global sporting Oscars, founded last year by co-patrons DaimlerChrysler and Richemont, were presented in a glitzy television ceremony staged in the regal surrounds of Monaco's Grimaldi Forum.

Woods, who triumphed in last year's US Open, the British Open and the PGA championship, received the magnificent Laureus statuette from his good friend and fellow major winner Mark O'Meara in a video link-up to his home in Florida.

``It's quite an honour to receive this award. I've had a nice little run this year and I hope that it can continue,'' he said.

The American golfer was unable to make the trip to Monaco for the two-hour television spectacular as he was preparing for this week's Kemper Insurance Open on the US PGA Tour.

Australian runner Cathy Freeman won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year title from tennis star Venus Williams, multi- discipline athlete Marion Jones, Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn and Aussie golfer Karrie Webb. Current Australian Open tennis title- holder Jennifer Capriati won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award; and South African extreme adventurer Mike Horn was named Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson of the Year.

``I'm really honoured to be receiving this award,'' Capriati said after accepting her Laureus statuette from US athlete Michael Johnson. ``We all know that making comebacks is very difficult and I hope that this is the last of the comebacks I ever make.''

Reigning World Cup champion France, which won last year's European football title for the second time, was named Laureus World Team of the Year, US Open tennis champion Marat Safin was voted Laureus World Newcomer of the Year, and Australian paraplegic yachtsman Vinnie Lauwers, the first sailor with a disability to sail solo round the world, was selected Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to British rower Steve Redgrave, for his astonishing run of five consecutive Olympic gold medals, while Kenyan running legend Kip Keino received the Sport for Good Award in honour of the outstanding contribution which he has made to soceity through sport over the years.

``I am very honoured and proud to receive this award and it's very special to be in Monaco with all the nominees gathered here tonight,'' said Redgrave. ``Maybe in three or four years I'll be standing here with a Comeback of the Year award. Now that would be some comeback!''

The annual Laureus Sports Awards ceremony, the first to celebrate sporting excellence across all disciplines and all continents, will be televised in more than 150 countries.

Gregory Hines and international supermodel Heide Klum hosted the ceremony, while the presenters on the night included Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Monica Bellucci, Boris Becker, Michael Johnson, David Ginola, Martina Navratilova, Alberto Tomba, Edwin Moses, Katarina Witt, David Douillet, Bobby Charlton, Peter Blake, Emerson Fittipaldi, Michael Clarke Duncan, Shannon Elizabeth, Marcia Gaye Harden and Boris Kodjoe.

The 2001 Laureus Sports Awards, held under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, recognised and rewarded sporting supremacy between February 1, 2000 and January 31 of this year.

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the charitable arm of the Laureus World Sports Awards, is this year teaming up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Olympic Solidarity Programme - the IOC Sport Aid organisation. The official seal on this twin initiative was highlighted by the attendance of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

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Section  : Sport
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