U.S. Sport Celebrates 11 Nominations for Laureus World Sports Awards

American sport is leading the way with 11 Nominations for the 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards, following a ballot by the world’s media. The names of the Nominees, six in each of seven categories, were announced in Berlin today.

After a sparkling 2015 in which she won three Grand Slams, US tennis legend Serena Williams is again nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award – her record tenth Laureus Nomination.

And golf’s world No.1 Jordan Spieth is shortlisted in two categories – Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.

NBA is well represented with Stephen Curry nominated for the Sportsman Award, with his Golden State Warriors shortlisted for the Laureus World Team of the Year, a category in which the US Women’s Football Team is also nominated after their record third World Cup win. Carli Lloyd, who scored three goals in the 5-2 final win over Japan, joins Serena Williams on the shortlist for the Sportswomen’s Award, along with brilliant teenage swimmer Katie Ledecky.

Carli Lloyd said: "For a soccer player it doesn’t come bigger than the World Cup. It’s been a great competition for me over the years, and to score a hat-trick in the final was a dream come true and a career high. It was awesome for me, but great for the team as well. I got a lot of the headlines, but we just had a wonderful group of players throughout the tournament. So I am delighted that the world’s media have nominated both me for the Laureus Sportswomen of the Year Award and the US for the Laureus Team Award. It’s a big honour. Thank You."

Reflecting on her nomination, Katie Ledecky commented: "I wish to thank the international media for the great honour of a nomination in the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year category. I appreciate this recognition very much as I am hard at work in the United States training for our Olympic Trials in June. I wish to offer my congratulations and best wishes to all of the nominees, and express my admiration for the Laureus Foundation and all of its ambassadors for the tremendous work they do around the world."

The most decorated Olympian Michael Phelps and ski star Lindsey Vonn are nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, while brilliant young snowboarder Chloe Kim is shortlisted for the Laureus Action Sports Award after winning the Super Pipe in the Winter X-Games at the age of 14.

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