F1 World Champion Max Verstappen Receives Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, Elaine Thompson-Herah Is Sportswoman Of The Year

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has been named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2022 at a digital ceremony hosted from Seville on Monday. Jamaican Olympic sprint queen Elaine Thompson-Herah, has received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.

Red Bull Racing's Verstappen, who secured his first World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December after a tense duel with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, said: “I was very happy, of course, but it was a lot of hard work and years of preparation. I'm incredibly proud. Since I was a little kid I dreamt of being on the top step and winning the championship. I said to my dad [Former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen] ‘We did it, this is what we worked for all these years and now we are here, the two of us, all the memories, all the years of travelling all over Europe, going for that one goal and we achieved it'.

“I'm the first Dutch driver to win the World Championship, so the reaction back in Holland was amazing from all the newspapers and fans, it's something we'll never forget. It means a lot to be recognised for this Award, one of the highest ones in the world, so I'm incredibly happy.”

Thompson-Herah, who defended her 100 and 200 metres Olympic titles in Tokyo, and also won a third gold in the 4 x 100m relay, is happy that like her famous compatriot Usain Bolt, she too has received the prestigious award. “I know Usain has won Laureus Awards before, so to bring this trophy back home to the Caribbean, also in Jamaica, is very special.

“I have watched that [100 metres] race about a thousand times now. I would say I am very, very proud, but I cannot dwell on the past. Even though it's very special, it's memories. I cannot just sit and say ‘OK, I'm a