Bolt wins Laureus ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award

TIL Desk Sports/ World’s “greatest” sprinter Usain Bolt pipped the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James to win the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ trophy for a record-equalling fourth time, while gymnast Simone Biles clinched the top honour in the women’s category at the Laureus World Awards at a glittering ceremony here.

They are the little and large of sport while Bolt stands 1.95 metres, Biles measures just 1.45 metres but they were both giants at the Rio Olympics, and enjoyed an ecstatic welcome as they received their statuettes here, the birthplace of the first ever Laureus awards 17 years ago.

Bolt, who won this award in 2009, ’10 and ’13, walked away with the ‘Oscar of Sports’ for the fourth time, thereby joining tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and surfer Kelly Slater as four-time Laureus award winner. Bolt received his award from legendary Michael Johnson, who urged him not to break other people’s records. To which Bolt responded by saying “sorry”. “I am sorry to have broken your record,” Bolt told Johnson.