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(ATR) Sebastian Vettel and Missy Franklin are the 2014 Laureus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year.
Vettel became the youngest driver to win four Formula One racing titles, winning his fourth straight in 2013, while Missy Franklin won six gold medals at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.
Franklin is the youngest ever Laureus Sports Award winner at just 18 years of age.
"This is such a dream come true. I have to thank Laureus for even considering me for this. It is so incredible, being in the presence of so many unbelievable athletes," Franklin said upon accepting her award.
The award ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was hosted by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. American singer Jamie Foxx performed a tribute to those lost in the Malaysia Flight 370 tragedy.
Other winners included:Marc Márquez of Spain for Breakthrough of the Year; FC Bayern Munich for Team of the Year; Marie Bochet of France for World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability; Jamie Bestwick for World Action Sportsperson of the Year; and Rafael Nadal for World Comeback of the Year.
Two special awards, the Spirit of Sport Award and theSport for Good Award, were also presented. The Afghanistan national cricket team won the Spirit of Sport Award, while Magic Bus, a sports-based community project in India, took home the Sport for Good Award.
"A Laureus Award was a huge goal for me. To finally achieve it means so much. I saw everything that Tony put into his sport, so I worked hard and I hoped I could achieve it, too. And now I have," said Bestwick upon receiving his award.
"To the Laureus Academy, thank you very much. I’m so honoured."
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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