The winners of the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards recognizing sporting achievement during 2012 was unveiled at a globally televised awards ceremony hosted by Hollywood stars Morgan Freeman and Eva Longoria in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
Among the highlights were a third Laureus Award for Jamaican sprint giant Usain Bolt, success for British sport with the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award honors going to Jessica Ennis and tennis star Andy Murray copping the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.
Michael Phelps became the first recipient of the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award for being the most successful Olympian of all time, a special new award added to the categories.
The Laureus World Sports Awards are the premier honors on the international sporting calendar.
Bolt was acclaimed Laureus World Sportsman of the Year after his remarkable performance at the Olympics when he repeated his success in Beijing by winning gold medals in all three sprint events in London — 100 meters, 200 miters and 4x100 meters relay.
Ennis carried the hopes of the British nation in London dominating the heptathlon winning the gold medal with a British record score of 6,955 points, while Murray got his first ever Grand Slam victory, at the U.S. Open, plus an Olympic gold and silver medal in the singles and mixed doubles in London to earn his award
Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a career total of 22 medals, including 18 gold medals, eight of which he won in one Olympiad in Beijing earned him the Exceptional Achievement Award.
