Novak Djokovic is honored with the Laureus Sportsman Award for the fifth time in a row. Tom Brady presents the Serbian with the award for Sportsman of the Year
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and Spain’s world footballer Aitana Bonmati have been honored with the Laureus Award as the outstanding sports personalities of 2023. Both were presented with the “Sports Oscar” on Monday evening during a gala at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid. Djokovic received the statuette for the fifth time.
The winners also included the Spanish world champions as the first female team of the year and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, whose late goal in the Clásico against FC Barcelona (3:2) on Sunday evening. The former Dortmund player was honored as the Newcomer of the Year, Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles (USA) for the Comeback of the Year
Djokovic honored for the fifth time in a row
Serbian Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, narrowly missed out on a “calendar Slam” in the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz. Bonmati (26) not only won the World Championship title, but also the national championship and the Champions League with FC Barcelona, as well as all the personal honors.
“I feel incredibly honored to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award,” said Djokovic. “I think back to 2012 when I won it for the first time as a 24-year-old. I’m very proud to stand here twelve years later and look back on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success.” He said he was “truly blessed. “
Bonmati, like Lionel Messi last year, won the individual and team categories. “It’s overwhelming to see the list of previous winners of this award. Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Naomi Osaka and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are all incredible athletes who have not only excelled in their sports, but are also incredible role models for younger generations of young women and girls,” she said.
