Rossi nominated for World Sports gong
Added on Friday, April 17th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi nominated for World Sports gong
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has been nominated for the prestigious ‘World Sportsman of the Year’ in the tenth annual Laureus World Sports Awards.
The eight-time world champion, who swept to the 2008 MotoGP title, is one of two names from the world of motorsport up for the gong, with British F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton also nominated for the award.
The pair will go up against Olympic heroes Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps as well as tennis star Rafael Nadal and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
The quintet provides tough opposition for Rossi as he rubs shoulders with the genuine headline makers of 2008.
American swimmer Michael Phelps made history by winning eight gold medals in a single Olympiad at the Beijing Games although his achievement was arguably overshadowed just days later as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt smashed world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal was also an Olympic gold medallist in Beijing as he took the men’s tennis title to add to his Wimbledon and French Open wins – putting him at the top of the ATP rankings.
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo also boasts strong credentials, with a Premier League and European Cup medal the result of 42 goals in the 2007-2008 season.
Due to the economic climate, awards organisers Laureus have opted against hosting a large scale award ceremony. Instead, winners will be given their awards individually throughout May and June.
