British BMX sensation Jamie Bestwick wins Laureus Action Sports Award
March 26, 2014
Britain’s 42-year-old BMX sensation Jamie Bestwick won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award.
After receiving his Award at the Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jamie, originally from Nottingham, but now based in the United States, said: “A Laureus Award, something Tony held in such high regard, was a huge goal for me. To finally achieve it means so much. I saw everything that Tony put into his sport, so I worked hard and I hoped I could achieve it, too. And now I have.
“To the Laureus Academy, thank you very much. I’m so honoured.”
Bestwick is the only athlete in X Games history to win eight straight gold medals, two more than legends such as Tony Hawk and Shaun White. This was his fourth straight Laureus Nomination.
The Awards were announced in seven categories. The winners are:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Sebastian Vettel
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Missy Franklin
Laureus World Team of the Year: Bayern Munich
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Marc Márquez
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Rafael Nadal
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Marie Bochet
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Jamie Bestwick