Laureus World Sports Awards 2016

The all blacks have won the laureus world sports award for team of the year.Rugby world cup winning skipper richie mccaw received the award on behalf of the team at the awards in berlin on monday.The glamorous night diverts from the norms of the ‘black tie’ dress code by inviting athletes to acccesorise their outfit with a nice pair of casual kicks but richie mccaw took casual to a whole new level.

 

The all blacks beat off nba champions golden state warriors, the mercedes formula one team, the great britain davis cup tennis team and two soccer juggernauts european club giants barcelona and women’s world champions the united states.

 

New zealand has never before tasted success at the laureus awards, which began in 2000 and are “dedicated to changing the lives of disadvantaged children through sport, and celebrating the achievements of the world’s greatest sportspeople”.

 

England (in 2003) and south africa (2007) turned rugby world cup glory into team success but the all blacks couldn’t similarly convert in 2011. They also missed out in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2013 despite more strong years.

 

Earlier, former all black five-eighth dan carter won a laureus world sports award for comeback of the year.Carter, 34, trumped five other finalists in the category, acknowledging his long battle with injuries before a starring role at the world cup last year.“the award was a huge honour,” he said.

 

“it was a very special year for me, 2015, especially after all the injury setbacks i’ve had over the last couple of years.”Novak djokovic and serena williams won the laureus awards as the top athletes in the world in 2015.Djokovic won for the second straight year and williams picked up her fourth award. Williams did not attend the ceremony.

 

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 honored at monday’s ceremony. Lauda received a lifetime achievement award and cruyff was honored for his charity work. His son jordi accepted the award.

 

U.s. Golfer jordan spieth won the breakthrough of the year honor while brazilian swimmer daniel dias got the award for a sportsperson with a disability.