It was the night of tennis in Berlin, at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where Mercedes-Benz is a partner. Both Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic got awards for their performance in 2015. The non-executive Chairman of Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, Niki Lauda, was rewarded for a lifetime in sports.
Serena Williams is celebrated yet another marvelous year on the tennis court with three Grand Slams won and was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.
And it was a great night for tennis in Berlin, as Novak Djokovic was honored with the Laureus World Sportsman Award for the second straight year and for the third time in his career. And he seems to have fully deserved it after winning 82 matches out of 88, four Grand Slam titles and seven other tournaments.
There was a special posthumous Laureus Spirit of Sport Award to celebrate the amazing life and career of Johan Cryuff, who died last March. It was his son, Jordi Cruyff, who received the trophy.
Three-time world champion in Formula 1, Niki Lauda, and also non-executive Charman of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala hosted by actor Bill Murray and broadcast in 160 countries.
Here are the winners of the Laureus Awards.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Laureus World Team of the Year: All Blacks
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Jordan Spieth
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Dan Carter
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Daniel Dias
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Jan Frodeno
Laureus Spirit of Sport Award: Johan Cruyff
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Niki Lauda
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kenya’s Moving the Goalposts football project.
Here are just a few of the Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Ambassadors and other guests present in Berlin: Boris Becker, Oliver Bierhoff, Nadia Comaneci, David Coulthard, Alessandro Del Piero, Marcel Desailly, Luis Figo, Lewis Hamilton, Niki Lauda, Jens Lehmann, Tegla Loroupe, Joachim Löw, Garrett McNamara, Ilie Nastase, Alexey Nemov, Nico Rosberg, Pascal Wehrlein, Katarina Witt, Toto Wolff.
Sneakers for Good
It was ballgowns, tuxedos and… sneakers in Berlin, where stars Novak Djokovic and Nico Rosberg led the way as the world’s top athletes joined the Sneakers For Good campaign.
Djokovic, who performed an acrobatic jump to show off his sports shoes on the red carpet, said:
“We’re here to celebrate Laureus and what they stand for. For 16 years they have done so much with Sport For Good. They have changed so many young lives for the better.”
The Formula 1 star Nico Rosberg, who won 3 out 3 races this season, also matched his tux to his bright white sneakers to his shirt.
“It’s a fun idea,” said Rosberg. “Most of us seem to have gone for white ones. It’s a fun way to get the message of Laureus out into the world.“
