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The Laureus World Sports Awards, which celebrate the best of the best in sports will be announced in Berlin on April 18. The nominations though have been released, with Australians Jason Day and Mick Fanning featuring on the list.
Fanning, after fighting off a shark in a surfing competition, and then returning to the water just six days later in his pursuit for the world championship has been nominated in two categories.
After the dramatic incident, where Fanning was seen being knocked off his board and then punching the shark to get away, he ended up finishing second in the World Surfing League.
His efforts throughout the year have been recognised with his nominations for the categories of Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award and the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
Fanning said on his nomination: “The incident with the shark in South Africa definitely shook me up. At first I wondered if I’d ever surf or compete again. It only took a week before I was back in the water but my motivation for competition didn’t come back straight away.
“When I did get the hunger back to go after the World Title the driving inspiration for me was the people I met last year that experience daily hardships and in the face of adversity continue to pursue happiness through chasing goals.
“I have been twice nominated for a Laureus Award in the past, but to be nominated for two Laureus Awards in one year is something very special.”
Fellow Aussie, golfer Jason Day, has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the year award. Day won his first major championship at the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits with a record score of 20-under-par. Day would go onto win Canadian Open, The Barclays and the BMW Championship.
In a brilliant year for Day, he would move up to the world no. 1 spot, but ended the year at world no.2 behind Jordan Speith.
A full list of nominations for the seven categories is below:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
Usain Bolt (Jamaica) Athletics, Stephen Curry (US) Basketball, Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis,
Lewis Hamilton (UK) Motor Racing, Lionel Messi (Argentina) Football, Jordan Spieth (US) Golf.
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award
Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) Athletics, Anna Fenninger (Austria) Skiing, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) Athletics, Katie Ledecky (US) Swimming, Carli Lloyd (US) Football, Serena Williams (US) Tennis
Laureus World Team of the Year Award
All Blacks (New Zealand) Rugby, FC Barcelona (Spain) Football, Golden State Warriors (US) Basketball, Great Britain Davis Cup Team (Tennis), Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team (Germany),
US Women’s Football Team
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award
Chile Men’s Football Team, Jason Day (Australia) Golf, Tyson Fury (UK) Boxing, Adam Peaty (UK) Swimming, Jordan Spieth (US) Golf, Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Motor Racing.
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award
Dan Carter (New Zealand) Rugby, Jessica Ennis-Hill (UK) Athletics, Mick Fanning (Australia) Surfing,
Michael Phelps (US) Swimming, David Rudisha (Kenya) Athletics, Lindsey Vonn (US) Skiing.
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award
Marie Bochet (France) Skiing, Liu Cuiqing (China) Athletics, Daniel Dias (Brazil) Swimming, Omara Durand (Cuba) Athletics, Pieter Du Preez (S.Africa) Athletics, Cycling, Leung Yuk Wing (China Hong Kong) Boccia.
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award
Rachel Atherton (UK) Mountain Biking, Bob Burnquist (Brazil) Skateboard, Adriano de Souza (Brazil) Surfing, Mick Fanning (Australia) Surfing, Jan Frodeno (Germany) Ironman Triathlon, Chloe Kim (US) Snowboarding.
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