Adlington Wins Laureus Award
Olympic Swimming Champion Receives Breakthrough of the Year Award
© Kim Ford
Jun 20, 2009
Lord Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes presented a statuette to the swimmer as she visited the site of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. The Awards celebrate the achievements of teams and individuals who symbolise the very best in sport.
Adlington said: “It is a real honour to win this Award, it’s quite awe-inspiring when you realise who the 46 members of the Laureus Academy who voted actually are. To be recognised by the likes of British legends such as Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Lord Coe, Daley Thompson, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, swimmers Mark Spitz and Dawn Fraser, is incredible.
“It’s a unique award, made even more flattering when you look at the names of the other sportsmen and women who were nominated, not to mention the previous three winners - Lewis Hamilton, Amelie Mauresmo and Rafael Nadal. The last year has been a fantastic experience and I hope my journey towards London 2012 is equally as enjoyable. Thank you so much.”
Adlingtons Performance at the Beijing Olympics
Adlington’s two gold medals in Beijing last summer made her the most successful British swimmer since Henry Taylor who won three gold medals at the 1908 Games. She picked up her first gold after beating the USA’s Katie Hoff and fellow teammate Joanne Jackson in the 400m freestyle. This was also the first gold medal to be won by a British swimmer since Anita Lonsbrough secured hers in 1960. Days later the champion smashed the world record and received her second gold medal in the 800m freestyle event. The record was previously set by Janet Evans in 1988 when Adlington was six months old.
Adlington Congratulated by Lord Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes
Lord Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “Beijing was an Olympic Games full of stunning individual exploits and Rebecca Adlington’s performance was as good as any. Her arrival on the scene as an Olympic champion, at just 19, was dramatic and refreshing and she thoroughly deserves to win the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.
“What made Rebecca's success even more thrilling was it was unexpected. A genuine surprise of the most delightful kind. Rebecca helped to make it a wonderful Olympics for Britain and we will all be hoping that she can do it again when the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held in London in 2012.”
Dame Kelly Holmes won her gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics for her performances in the 800 and 1,500 metres track events. She said: “I congratulate Rebecca for an amazing performance in Beijing. I can totally identify with her. I have been there and I know how exciting this must be for her. There is something very special about winning a gold medal - or two of them. And then to be acknowledged by the great champions of the Laureus Academy is just so thrilling.”
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award Nominees
The other nominees for the 2009 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award were Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Anthony Kim, Sebastian Vettel and Zou Kai.
