Showing posts with label Laureus Sport Awards. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Jessica Ennis is the belle of the ball as she scoops ANOTHER award as Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year

Jessica Ennis is the belle of the ball as she scoops ANOTHER award as Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year in Rio de Janeiro

PUBLISHED: 11:21, 12 March 2013 | UPDATED: 13:49, 12 March 2013

She is a symbol of Britain’s success in the London 2012 games and poster girl for a new generation of young women

From taking home gold at the Games to being made a CBE this year, Jessica Ennis' career has been going from strength to strength.

And now the sports star can add another accolade to her already burgeoning CV after she was awarded Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year last night at the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards at Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro.

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Dazzling: Jessica Ennis poses with the award for Laureus World Sportswomen of the Year in the winners studio during the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards at Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro

The 27 year old, who has proven that sport and glamour most certainly go hand-in-hand, looked stunning in a flowing floor-length cream gown, which she teamed with simple silver jewellery and a glowing tan.

Speaking in Rio - home to the 2016 Olympics - the heptathlete said: 'There have been a few ups and downs, but you have those.

Another one to add to the cabinet: It has been a stellar eighteen months for the Olympic star and this is just another one of her recent awards

Jessica Ennis wins Sportswoman of the Year Award at Laureus World...

'Last year was just an incredible high, and things have happened since, but we are just trying to keep our heads down, focus and look towards the Worlds.'

And Ennis wasn't the only British athlete showing off some serious style credentials.

Victoria Pendleton showed off her enviable toned physique in a fitted red dress with daring split, which she teamed with a simple up do and black clutch bag.

Lady in red: Fellow Olympic athlete Victoria Pendleton wowed in a floor length red dress and stylish up do

Adding to the glamour of the evening was Desperate Housewives' beauty Eva Longoria who dazzled in a floor-length red gown, which showcased her toned and tanned back.

Also painting the town red was Brazilian actress Morena Baccarin who wowed as she made a speech on stage in front of the talented audience at the event.

Adding to the glamour: It seems that red was the colour order of the evening with Eva Lorgoria stunning in a floor length number

Adding to the glamour: It seems that red was the colour order of the evening with Eva Longoria stunning in a floor-length number

Bringing sexy back: The American actress looked every inch the Hollywood starlet in a backless dress

Glamorous affair: Brazilian actress Morena Baccarin made a speech on stage in another stylish red dress

It was a great night all round for British sports stars with tennis champion Andy Murray taking home the World Breakthrough of the Year gong after winning gold in the singles and silver in the mixed doubles at the Games as well as his first grand slam title at the US Open.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the organising committee for London 2012, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The World Team of the Year went to the European Ryder Cup squad, which featured seven UK golfers.

Other winners included Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who was named World Sportsman of the Year for a third time after he claimed a treble of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in London.

Iconic: Sprinter Usain Bolt showed off his iconic pose with the award for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

A great night for British sport: Laureus Academy Member Lord Sebastian Coe also picked up an award for his Olympic achievements

Ennis, Murray and Coe honoured at Laureus Awards ceremony in Rio after stunning year for British sport

By LAURA WILLIAMSON

PUBLISHED: 01:11, 12 March 2013 | UPDATED: 02:29, 12 March 2013

After such a glorious year for British sport, we should be forgiven for wanting to continue the London 2012 party just a little while longer.

British athletes, past and present, dominated at the Laureus World Sports awards in Rio de Janeiro on Monday night, as the world of international sport gathered at a glittering ceremony to celebrate an unforgettable year.

Britain may have handed over the Olympic and Paralympic flames to the 2016 host city, but the memory of London 2012 still burnt particularly bright 6,000 miles away in south America on Monday night.

Congratulations: Track and field athlete Jessica Ennis receives her award for 'Laureus Sportswomen of the Year' as presenters Nadia Comaneci and Eva Longoria look on

Couldn't make it: Andy Murray accepts his award on video because he was in Indian Wells to face Evgeny Donskoy

Actress Maggie Cheung with Laureus Academy Member Martina Navratilova announce Andy Murray as the winner of 'Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year'

The winners...

World Sportsman of the Year – Usain Bolt

World Sportswoman of the Year – Jessica Ennis

World Breakthrough of the Year – Andy Murray

World Comeback of the Year – Felix Sanchez

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability –Daniel Dias

Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award – Michael Phelps

Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award – Sebastian Coe

World Team of the Year – European Ryder Cup Team

World Action Sportsperson of the Year – Felix Baumgarter

Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis was crowned World Sportswoman of the Year, while Andy Murray won World Breakthrough and Sebastian Coe received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ian Poulter also accepted the Team of the Year prize on behalf of his European Ryder Cup team-mates.

Tony Blair called Lord Coe one of the ‘giants of British sport’ as the chairman of the London 2012 organising committee and double Olympic champion received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Edwin Moses and was honoured with a standing ovation.

‘I’m surrounded by the most extraordinary group of people, global icons,’ said Lord Coe, ‘and I realise that there is a commonality in the unshakeable belief we have in sport and the fact it transforms lives. This is extraordinary. I’m very, very flattered.’

Ennis beat off competition from fellow Olympic track and field gold medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix, swimmer Missy Franklin, skier Lindsey Vonn and tennis star Serena Williams to win her award, which was presented by former gymnast Nadia Comanechi.

A few hours earlier in a luxurious Rio hotel, Ennis had been discussing her shock and sadness at the closure of Don Valley Stadium in her hometown of Sheffield. Yet she looked equally composed collecting her award at the city’s dramatic Theatro Muncipal last night, during her 36-hour trip to the city in which she will aim to defend her Olympic title in three years’ time. We all know about the extraordinary pressure Ennis was under as the poster girl of London 2012, but it was poignant to see how the sporting world has realised it, too.

‘There was a lot of pressure in London,’ she said. ‘I looked back to what Cathy Freeman achieved in Sydney in 2000 (winning the 400 metres) and I really wanted to emulate that. I have incredible support from my friends and family and I was able to do it.’

Triumphant: Lord Sebastian Coe (above) won the Laureus Lifetime Achievement award while Usain Bolt (right and below) was crowned World Sportsman of the Year

The winners are chosen by the Laureus Sports Academy, comprising 46 of the ‘greatest living sportsmen and sportswomen’, including Sir Bobby Charlton, Daley Thompson and Sir Steve Redgrave, who were all in Rio. Double Olympic decathlon champion Thompson, however, was the only Academy member in a T-Shirt and tracksuit.

Thompson said: ‘Jessica’s performance was majestic. She had the whole weight of the country’s expectation on her shoulders. Despite that, she certainly delivered.

‘She not only produced a wonderful display in her events but she gave the British team an enormous lift. Jessica showed she could win a gold medal, so everyone who followed her also felt they could do it as well.’

Murray was another British winner, receiving the Laureus Breakthrough award after winning Olympic gold and silver and his first Grand Slam at the US Open champion last September.

The Scot, 25, did not attend the ceremony owing to playing commitments in Indian Wells, but said: ‘It was an amazing year: my first Grand Slam in New York and two medals at the Olympics in my home country.

Chit chat: Usian Bolt talks to Laureus Academy Member Michael Johnson as he accepts his award

Laureus Academy Chairman Edwin Moses hands the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award to Coe

Acceptance: Bolt takes his award from Michael Johnson, while Laureus Academy chairman Edwin Moses hands the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award to Coe

'I would have taken that at the start of the year, that’s for sure. Winning an award like this will definitely make me more determined to come back and do better in 2013.’

A video was shown of Poulter receiving the Team of the Year award to mark Europe’s thrilling comeback to win the Ryder Cup.

‘With the legends in sport that have voted for us, it truly is a special trophy to put our hands on,’ he said.

Redgrave presented Michael Phelps with the inaugural Exceptional Achievement Award, while Mark Spitz also paid the American a tribute via video link. Phelps, though, was emphatic he has no intention of trying to add to his 22 Olympic medals in Rio in 2016.

Other winners included Usain Bolt, who won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay in London and became Sportsmen of the Year for the third time, and Felix Sanchez, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion in 2012 – eight years after his Olympic title in Athens.

Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias, who won six individual gold medals at the Paralympic Games, fended off competition from Britain’s David Weir to win Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgarter, who became the first human to go through the sound barrier when he completed a 24-mile free fall over New Mexico in October, was named World Action Sportsperson of the Year.

Nice work: Michael Phelps poses with the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award in the winners studio at Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro

Monday, 11 March 2013

Victoria Pendleton in red cigarette pants as she heads to the Laureus Sport Awards in Brazil

All eyes on her: Victoria Pendleton proves her style credentials in red cigarette pants as she heads to the Laureus Sport Awards in Brazil with fiancé Scott Gardner

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 12:02, 11 March 2013 | UPDATED: 13:07, 11 March 2013

She might have retired from professional cycling, but Victoria Pendleton still managed to steal the limelight at the Laureus World Sport Awards in Brazil on Sunday.

Wearing a pair of bright red cigarette pants and a loose-fitting white top, the 31-year-old proved her style credentials at the welcome party in Rio de Janeiro.

With husband-to-be and former trainer Scott Gardiner in tow, the sportswoman stood out from the star-studded crowd as the city kicked off its calendar of sporting events.

Attention-grabbing: Victoria Pendelton stands out at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday in red cigarette pants

Victoria, who is gearing up to wed Scott in September, managed to look on-trend but laid back in her attention-grabbing ankle-length trousers and sleeveless white top.

She added a gold statement necklace to the outfit as well as a sequined clutch bag and kept things low-key with a modest pair of brown strapped high-heels.

The Olympian wore her dark hair loose and tousled and added a touch of red lipstick, matching her stand-out red trousers.

Bride-to-be: Victoria had her fiancé and former trainer Scott Gardner in tow for the trip to South America

Stealing the style crown: The cycling champion paired her stand-out trousers with a loose-fitting white top and a sequinned clutch

Still influential: Even though she's retired from professional cycling, Victoria proved that she's still a force to be reckoned with in the world of sport

Victoria had clearly not wanted to be parted from her fiancé Scott, bringing him with her to South American country and staying close to him at the party.

Even though she retired from cycling after the London 2012 Olympics, the star proved that she's still influential in the world of sports, standing out at the important event.

But she wasn't the only sports star who had made the trip half way across the world for the awards ceremony, Sebastian Coe also attended the party.

Joining the party: Morgan Freeman, who wore a white glove on one hand, and former tennis pro Martina Navratilova also showed up for the awards

Hand-over: Lord Sebastian Coe, who was chairman for the London 2012 Olympics, jetted to Brazil for the party

All corners of the globe: Romanian former tennis ace Ilie Nastase also showed up for the bash, with a glamorous guest in tow

The politician, who was chairman of the Olympic committee last summer, showed up with wife Carole Annett in tow, and they were joined by other sporting stars.

Tennis player Martina Navratilova arrived wearing a lilac silk shirt, joined by Marcel Desailly and Ruud Gullit.

A-lister Morgan Freeman also put in an appearance at the party, dressed smartly but inexplicably wearing a white glove on one hand.

Trying to stand out? Footballer Marcel Desailly makes sure that all eyes are on him in a bright orange silk shirt

Coming together: Ruud Gullit also turned out for the party, which brought together people form all corners of the sporting world

KATCHING MY I

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Tuesday, 12 March 2013