LONDON: Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and golf’s number one Tiger Woods are among five nominees for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, but the tougher choice could be for the women’s title.
Athletes Marion Jones of the United States and Briton Paula Radcliffe are in the frame along with tennis number one Serena Williams, Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam and Croatia’s Olympic skiing champion Janica Kostelic (pic).
Olympic champion Michael Johnson said choosing 2002’s best female performer would be particularly difficult.
“I will have a really tough time picking the Sportwoman of the Year,” Johnson told Reuters. “It’s a very hard group.”
Jones, who won the award in 2000, was unbeaten in the 100m on the Golden League circuit while Radcliffe broke the world marathon best in Chicago. Sorenstam won 11 titles and Williams won the three of the four Grand Slams last year.
American Woods won the award at the first two “sporting Oscars” while Germany’s Schumacher took the prize for his achievements in 2001.
The other nominees for the men’s award are Brazil football striker Ronaldo, Norway’s Olympic biathlon champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of the US, the organisers said in a statement.
American Jennifer Capriati won the women’s award last year when Sorenstam was also nominated.
Nominees for the team of 2002 award are football world champions Brazil, European football champions Real Madrid, Olympic ice hockey champions Canada, F1’s Ferrari and Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning golf team.
Tennis players Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Argentine David Nalbandian, Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, English football player Wayne Rooney and Dutch Olympic speedskater Jochem Uytdehaage are in competition for the newcomer’s award.
Forty one sports personalities, including Seve Ballesteros, John McEnroe and Ed Moses, will also choose the best alternative and comeback sports people of the year from a shortlist drawn up by 400 journalists from 75 countries.
The winners will be announced on May 20 in Monte Carlo. – Reuters
Athletes Marion Jones of the United States and Briton Paula Radcliffe are in the frame along with tennis number one Serena Williams, Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam and Croatia’s Olympic skiing champion Janica Kostelic (pic).
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