Remarkable year gets attention from international sports community
Surf News Network, 5 March, 2016 – Mick Fanning has been nominated for two Laureus World Sports awards, an entity that recognizes the best athletes in the world.
Fanning joins the likes of Stephen Curry, Michael Phelps and Lionel Messi at the awards. Fanning is nominated in the action sportsperson category and the comeback of the year category which is usually populated by those that come back to sport after retirement.
But Fanning’s 2015 was wholly unlike anything experienced by other athletes. From the shark attack at JBay to the passing of his brother during the Pipe Masters and narrow loss of the world title, it’s been a steamroller of a year for Fanning.
In the action sports category he joins Rachel Atherton (UK) mountain biking, Bob Burnquist (Brazil) skateboard, Adriano de Souza (Brazil) surfing, Jan Frodeno (Germany) ironman triathlon, Chloe Kim (USA) snowboarding.
He shares the more dynamic Comeback of the Year category with Dan Carter (New Zealand) rugby, Jessica Ennis-Hill (UK) athletics, Michael Phelps (US) swimming, David Rudisha (Kenya) athletics, Lindsey Vonn (US) skiing.
Adriano de Souza is also up for Action Sports Athlete of the year. In previous years Kelly Slater and Shaun White have also been honored.
Laureus World Sports Awards are decided by a panel of sports editors, writers and broadcasters who vote to create a shortlist of six nominations in five categories. The winners will be awarded in a gala event held in Berlin on April 18.
