Messi, Bolt in running for Laureus honours

The world’s fastest runner Usain Bolt and Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi are among nominations for the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards.

The awards ceremony, which recognises excellent sporting achievements during 2011, will be held in London on February 6.

World record holder in both the 100m and 200m disciplines, sprinter Bolt was nominated in the World Sportsman of the Year category, along with footballer Messi following his La Liga and Champions League double with Barcelona.

ATP world number one Novak Djokovic was nominated for a stellar season that included 41 consecutive wins, while Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel is in the running for his record-breaking campaign.

Cyclist Cadel Evans was also nominated in the category, after he became the first Australian and oldest rider to win the coveted race. German basketballer Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks rounds out the field.

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiat, who won the 5000m, 10,000m and cross-country world titles, earned a nomination for the Sportswoman of the Year, along with 100m champion Carmelita Jeter, world number one golfer Yani Tseng, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, Japan’s World Cup football star Homare Sawa and German alpine skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch.

In the team category, Rugby World Cup winners the All Blacks were nominated, alongside the English cricket team for its Ashes triumph.

Champions League winners Barcelona, Japan’s Women’s World Cup winning team, NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks and Red Bull’s F1 team complete the nominations.

Super Rugby teams the Queensland Reds and Canterbury Crusaders were nominated for World Comeback of the Year; the Reds for their championship-winning season following floods that ravaged the region, and finalists Crusaders after representing earthquake-afflicted Christchurch with distinction.

Kvitova was also recognised in the World Breakthrough of the Year category, along with US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy and Chinese tennis player Li Na.