Federer wins record fourth Laureus award

World tennis number one Roger Federer won the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for a record fourth year in a row yesterday. Fellow tennis number one Justine Henin was named the best sportswoman for the first time, ahead of last year's...

World tennis number one Roger Federer won the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for a record fourth year in a row yesterday.

Fellow tennis number one Justine Henin was named the best sportswoman for the first time, ahead of last year's winner, world and Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva.

Lewis Hamilton took the Breakthrough of the Year award for his remarkable debut season in F1, while a fellow Briton, long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe, was named the Comeback Athlete of the Year.

Rugby world champions South Africa won the Team of the Year award and Sergei Bubka, the Ukrainian pole vaulter, received the Lifetime Achievement award.

The winners were announced at a gala ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin at St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre.

Federer beat a strong field, including golf's Tiger Woods, Kimi Raikkonen, of F1, and World Player of the Year Kaka.

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