Djokovic pips Messi, Bolt to win Sportsman of the Year for the third time

Berlin Novak Djokovic pipped the likes of Usain Bolt and Lionel Messi to win the Sportsman of the Year trophy for a third time while Serena Williams clinched the top honour in the womens category at the Laureus World Awards here todayDjokovic who won this award in 2012 and 15 walked away with it for a second successive time after clinching threeGrand Slams Australian Wimbledon and US Open last year He was also the finalist in the French OpenThe Serbian tennis star also went onto Instagram to post a picture of him with his awardThis was amazing evening for me and my team I feel so grateful yet so humble to find myself among so many great athletes Congratulations to all the nominees and winners Thank you laureussport academy members for voting for me and sports media representatives for nominating me Thank you NoleFam for cheering for me and believing in me I can only speak from my personal experience and say that IT IS possible to achieve great things no matter where you come from no matter how little or nothing you have With all of our human imperfections and limits we CAN DO great things in any field of life Each and every one of us no matter what shoes we chose to wear lets always wear them to do good SneakersforGood LWSA16A photo posted by Novak Djokovic djokernole onApr 18 2016 at 214pm PDTI am very proud of it It wouldnt have been possible without the great team that I have I am grateful to the love and passion of tennis that brought me here Sports has inspired me in so many different ways I dedicate this award to two people who have inspired I want to thank them for their legacy My Nicki Lauda and Mr Johan Cryuff Djokovic said after being presented the trophy by current F1 leader Nico RosbergMessi who had been nominated for a fifth time once again lost out on the top awardFormer Spanish footballer Carles Puyol and partner Vanessa Lorenzo PicsAFPIts probably a glitch we need to correct Somebody like Messi ought to win this award Maybe football being a team sport comes in the way Laureus academy member Steve Waugh said before the ceremonyWilliams was the overwhelming favourite after securing a record 10th nomination and thanks to her three Grand Slams last season the American notched up her third Sportswoman of the Year Laureus trophyFormer British Formula One racer David Coulthard with wife Karen MinierIn the other categories American golf star Jordan Spieth who was also nominated in the Sportsman of the Year category won the Breakthrough of the Year award The 21yearold Spieth is the reigning world No1 who has already won the Masters and the US OpenThe world champion New Zealand rugby team notched up the Team of the Year honour while the star of their triump Dan Carter was picked for Comeback of the Year for bouncing back remarkably following an injury breakdown in 2011Tennis legend Boris Becker with wife Lilly and son Noah Threetime Formula One world champion Nicki Lauda was presented the Laureus Lifetime Achievement award I dedicate this award to all the losers Because it is after losing that I learnt the most the 67yearold Austrian said after being presented the trophy by reigning world champion Lewis HamiltonFormer Formula One champion Niki Lauda 67 amp wife Birgit 37The Laureus Academy also paid tribute to the late Johan Cryuff who passed away last month after battling cancer Cryuff was chosen for the Laureus Spirit of Sport award which was presented to his son Jordi by World Cup winning former Spanish defender Carlos PuyolThe winners in the 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award Novak Djokovic Serbia Tennis Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award Serena Williams US Tennis Laureus World Team of the Year Award All Blacks New Zealand Rugby Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award Jordan Spieth US GolfLaureus World Comeback of the Year Award Dan Carter New Zealand Rugby