Third Laureus Award for Bolt

RIO DE JANEIRO - Jamaican star sprinter Usain Bolt was named Sportsman of the Year for the third time at the Laureus Sports Awards here on Monday, while Britain's heptathlete Jessica Ennis was chosen as the Sportswoman of the Year.

It was the third Laureus Award for Bolt who repeated his success in Beijing by winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in London Olympics. He beat American swimming legend Michael Phelps, Argentinean soccer sensation Lionel Messi who scored 86 goals in the calendar year, among other famous nominees to claim the award.

Ennis outshone tennis star Serena Williams and American skiing queen Lindsey Vonn to be acclaimed as Sportswoman of the Year for her overwhelming performance in London Olympics Games, where she dominated the heptathlon event and won the gold medal with a British record score of 6,955 points.

The Best Team Award went to the European Ryder Cup Team who defeat American golf team after amazing final day fightback at Medinah.

Britain's tennis star Andy Murray, who grabbed an Olympic gold in the singles and a silver in the mixed doubles last year and went on to win his career first Grand Slam at US Open, was presented with the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award

Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic won the World Comeback of the Year Award for winning his second 400m hurdles Olympic gold in London, at the age of 34, eight years after he claimed the first in Athens.

Brazilian swimmer Daniel de Faria Dias was named World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability after he notched six Paralympic gold medals in London, all in world records.

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who became the first human to go faster than the speed of sound as he made the highest ever freefall from 39km over New Mexico last October, was given the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Sebastian Coe received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his successful job as Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, while the newly created Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award went to Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 career medals.