Ronaldo wins two Laureus Sports Awards



Ronaldo has become the first sportman to win two Laureus Sports Awards in the same year. The Real Madrid player collected the accolade for the Comeback of the Year and, after that, on behalf of World Cup winners Brazil, he picked up a second Statuette for the Laureus World Team of the Year. At Monte Carlo Grimaldi Forum, the Megastar was accompanied by Emilio Butragueño and Spanish Sports Secretary Juan Antonio Gómez-Angulo. It is hard to find an adjective to describe the season the Brazilian player is experiencing after having won the Golden Ball, the FIFA World Player Award, the 2002 World Cup Golden Ball, the Intercontinental Cup (at which he was named as best player) and the ONZE d'Or

Ronaldo has been crowned in Monte Carlo. The Brazilian footballer has been the triumphant character of the 2003 Laureus Awards. After the ceremony, he will fly back to Madrid with two trophies in the bag. The first one is for the Comeback of the Year and the second one for the Team of the Year. He is sharing the latter with all his Brazil teammates, including Real Madrid player Roberto Carlos.

By vote, Real forward beat skiers Janica Kostelicand Hermann Maier, tennis player Pete Sampras and swimmer F. Van Almsikc. His impressive performance after having recovered from two serious injuries on his knee has earned him the accolade. Ronaldo succeeds tennis player Goran Ivanisevic in this award.

The audience at Monte Carlo Grimaldi Forum rose to their feet when the Megastar went up to the stage for a second time to collect the Team of the Year Award for Brazil. The Carnarinha stood ahead of Real Madrid, Canadian National Ice Hockey Team, the European Ryder Cup Team and Ferrari's Formula One Team.

Apart from the Real Madrid striker, there were more triumphant characters in Monaco. Lance Amstrong was designated as the Sportsman of the Year, Serena Williams the Sportswoman of the Year. NBA's Houston Rockets player Yao Ming was the Newcomer of the Year and the award for a lifetime achievement went to golfer Gary Player.

The only Spaniard that has been awarded is golf p`layer Sergio García when, in 2000, he won the Newcomer accolade. The jury of the awards has two Spanish members: Miguel Indurain and Severiano Ballesteros.

2003 AWARD WINNERS:
Comeback of the Year: Ronaldo
Sportsman of the Year: Lance Amstrong
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Team of the Year: Selección de Brasil
Alternative Sportsperson: Dean Potter
Sportsperson with a Disability: Michael Milton
Newcomer of the Year: Yao Ming
Lifetime Achievement: Gary Player
Sports for Good Award: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Report: José L. Sánchez
Photos: Diario AS