Abu Dhabi: Spain's world No 1 tennis star Rafael Nadal and Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn from the US last night scooped up their first 2011 Laureus Best Sportsman and Sportswoman awards respectively at a glittering ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel here.
In pictures: Laureus Awards red carpet
Nadal won ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, NBA star Kobe Bryant, Spain's World Cup-winning star Andres Iniesta, Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao and F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Vonn was chosen ahead of the likes of tennis stars Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki and athletes Blanka Vlasic of Croatia and Jessica Ennis of the United Kingdom.
Nadal was rewarded for an amazing 2010 season during which the Spaniard won three Grand Slams —French Open, Wimbledon and US Open — while Vonn earned the award in recognition of her third straight skiing World Cup win and the gold in the Olympic Downhill.
Spain's football team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa walked away with the World Team of the Year, while German Martin Kaymer — a three-time winner at the Abu Dhabi Golf Open — took the World Breakthrough of the Year Award.
Italian maverick motorcycling rider Valentino Rossi bagged the World Comeback of the Year Award, Kelly Slater took the World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award after winning a record 10th World Surfing Championships while Verena Bentele of Germany was a popular choice for the World Sportsperson of the Year with Disability Award.
Three additional awards were presented to Zinedine Zidane (Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award), the European Ryder Cup Team (Laureus Spirit of Sport Award) and May Al Khalil, founder of the Beirut Marathon (Laureus Sport for Good Award).
The annual awards, held under the patronage of ailing South African leader Nelson Mandela, recognise sporting achievement during a calendar year, with the winners selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy consisting of 46 of the greatest sportspeople of all time.