To be awarded as the top athlete of the year is a great honor for there are millions of athletes competing in the world. Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were recently named as the world's top athletes of 2015 during the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony.
The Laureus World Sports Awards event was held in Berlin, Germany, Sportsnet reports. Djokovic has won the top athlete of the year award for the third time in his career while Williams has won the award for the fourth time.
The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year is Novak Djokovic! #LWSA16 pic.twitter.com/npoCTtZEax
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 18, 2016
Williams is a 34-year-old American professional tennis player ranked number one in the world of female tennis, according to ESPN. Williams was not able to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony.
Djokovic is a 28-year-old Serbian professional tennis player ranked number one in the world of male tennis, according to ESPN. "In his acceptance speech, Djokovic dedicated the award to the late soccer star Johan Cruyff and the former Formula One driver Niki Lauda, who were also both honoured at Monday's ceremony," Sportsnet shares.
They've been on top in NY just a few times too. Congrats @DjokerNole & @serenawilliams on your @LaureusSport awards! pic.twitter.com/tSXIONLeM9 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) April 19, 2016
Niki Lauda was honoured with a lifetime achievement award and the late Johan Cruyff with an award for his charitable work. Cruyff's son accepted the award on behalf of his father and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
The New Zealand rugby team that won the Rugby World Cup was given the team of the year award. American golfer Jordan Spieth was given the breakthrough of the year award while Dan Carter was given the comeback of the year honor. The Laureus World Sports Awards was hosted by "Ghostbusters" actor Bill Murray.
