LONDON, 17 March 2004 — Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and men’s tennis No. 1 Roger Federer were named yesterday with four other nominees for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
The pair will be up against American swimmer Michael Phelps, England rugby flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi of Italy and five-times Tour de France cycling champion Lance Armstrong, the organizers said in a statement.
Athletes Maria Mutola of Mozambique and Briton Paula Radcliffe are in the frame for the women’s title, along with tennis players Justine Henin-Hardenne and Serena Williams, Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam and Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn.
Mutola became last year the first athlete to clinch the $1 million jackpot outright after staying unbeaten over 800 meters on the Golden League circuit. Radcliffe broke the world marathon record in London.
Henin-Hardenne won the 2003 French and US Open titles and the Australian Open in January while Williams successfully defended her Wimbledon crown last July, but has not played following a knee operation.
Nominees for the team award are World Cup cricket champions Australia, Formula One’s Ferrari, European soccer champions AC Milan, yachting’s America’s Cup holders Alinghi, World Cup rugby champions England and women’s football World Cup winners Germany.
Teenage golfer Michelle Wie of the United States, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, Brazilian footballer Robinho, American basketball prodigy LeBron James and British Open golf champion Ben Curtis are in competition for the newcomer’s award.
Forty one sports personalities, including Miguel Indurain, John McEnroe and Ed Moses, will also choose the best alternative and comeback sports people of the year from a shortlist drawn up by 400 journalists from 73 countries.
The winners will be announced on May 10 in Estoril, Portugal.
