Laureus Sports Awards 2015: Full List of Nominees for All Awards Revealed
The nominations have been announced for this year's Laureus Sports Awards with Rory McIlory and Cristiano Ronaldo included amongst the six in contention for the World Sportsman of the Year gong.
The annual awards recognise remarkable individuals and teams from the world of sport, with previous winners including Usain Bolt, Roger Federer, Jessica Ennis and Serena Williams.
Below is the full list of nominees from all seven categories for the 2015 awards, via Laureus:
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| Sportsman | ||
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Football |
| Rory McIlroy | UK | Golf |
| Novak Djokovic | Serbia | Tennis |
| Lewis Hamilton | UK | Motor Racing |
| Renaud Lavillenie | France | Athletics |
| Marc Marquez | Spain | Motorcycling |
| Sportswoman | ||
| Valerie Adams | New Zealand | Athletics |
| Marit Bjorgen | Norway | Nordic Skiing |
| Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | Athletics |
| Li Na | China | Tennis |
| Tina Maze | Slovenia | Skiing |
| Serena Williams | USA | Tennis |
| Team | ||
| European Ryder Cup Team | Multiple | Golf |
| German Men's Football Team | Germany | Football |
| Mercedes Formula One Team | Multiple | Motor Racing |
| Real Madrid Football Team | Spain | Football |
| San Antonio Spurs | USA | Basketball |
| Swiss Davis Cup Team | Switzerland | Tennis |
| Comeback | ||
| Francesco Acerbi | Italy | Football |
| Schalk Burger | South Africa | Rugby |
| Deigo Milito | Argentina | Football |
| Jo Pavey | UK | Athletics |
| Pierre Vaultier | France | Snowboarding |
| Oliver Wilson | UK | Golf |
| Breakthrough | ||
| Marin Cilic | Croatia | Tennis |
| Mario Gotze | Germany | Football |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Australia | Motor Racing |
| James Rodriguez | Colombia | Football |
| Mikaela Shiffrin | USA | Alpine Skiing |
| Swiss Davis Cup Team | Switzerland | Tennis |
| Action | ||
| Alan Eustace | USA | Skydiving |
| Stephanie Gilmore | Australia | Surfing |
| Nyjah Huston | USA | Skateboarding |
| Sage Kotsenburg | USA | Snowboarding |
| Danny MacAskill | UK | Trials Cycling |
| Gabriel Medina | Brazil | Surfing |
| Disability | ||
| Shelley Gautier | Canada | Cycling |
| Tatyana McFadden | USA | Wheelchair Racing |
| Roman Petushkov | Russia | Nordic Skiing |
| Anna Schaffelhuber | Germany | Alpine Skiing |
| Sarah Storey | UK | Cycling |
| Leung Yuk Wing | Hong Kong | Boccia |
McIlroy must be seen as a front-runner for the men's award having won two of golf's four major events—the Open and the USPGA—in 2014.
Equally, Ronaldo had a superlative 2014, winning the Champions League and Copa del Rey with Real Madrid while picking up numerous individual awards, including the prestigious Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo declared he was "very proud" to be nominated for the award following the announcement.
The least well-known amongst the nominees for World Sportsman of the Year is arguably French pole-vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, who broke a 21-year-old world record in his event with a 6.16 metre jump back in February.
Amongst the nominees in other categories, British athlete Jo Pavey and Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic both expressed their surprise and gratitude at being nominated:
The awards will all be presented at the Shanghai Grand Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, April 15.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
