These are the winners of the Laureus Awards 2019

Monaco, February 18, 2019: The winners have been chosen: 

The world's best tennis player Novak Djokovic, record-breaking gymnast Simone Biles, golf legend Tiger Woods and the France Football Team were among the big winners at the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards.

In the presence of Prince Albert II in Monaco, Novak Djokovic beat off stiff competition from Kylian Mbappe, Eliud Kipchoge and LeBron James to win the Laureus World Sportsman of Year Award. Novak, who won Wimbledon and the 2018 US Open after elbow surgery, is now a four-time Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

After his award, Novak said:

"A Laureus Award is something every athlete wants to win, and this award is a great honor for me. Being here today among so many sporting greats and hearing about the inspiring work of Laureus around the world, this award gives me a special meaning."

"Last year was an incredible season for me. To win Wimbledon and the US Open again after my injury is something I will remember forever. I'm very happy and want to thank the Laureus Academy for their support."

The Laureus World Sports Academy, comprised of 68 global sports legends, took time to select the winners in each selected category, which recognizes the sports achievements of athletes during the 2018 calendar year. The awards were hosted by actor James Marsden and presented by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jorja Smith.

Following her record-breaking performance at the World Gymnastics Championships, where she won four gold, one silver and one bronze medal, Simone Biles was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Biles, who also won the Sportswoman Award in 2017, made history last year as the first woman to win four all-around world championships. At just 21, she now has a record 14 career world titles.

France, the 2018 FIFA World Cup champions, became the first national soccer team to win a second Laureus Award for World Team of the Year. It beat off competition made up of world-leading teams in a range of sports, including Mercedes AMG Petronas F1, Golden State Warriors and Real Madrid. French coach Didier Deschamps was in Monaco to accept the award on behalf of the team.

Japan's first Grand Slam tennis star, Naomi Osaka, received the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award for her victory at the US Open, where she defeated five-time Laureus Award winner Serena Williams. The 21-year-old Osaka, who is ranked number one in the world after winning the Australian Open, makes history as the first Laureus Award winner in Japan.

Golf star and ten-time Laureus Nominee Tiger Woods won his third Laureus Award after winning Laureus World Sportsman of the Year at the 2000 and 2001 Laureus Awards. The American received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award for winning the Tour Championship and his first victory in 1876 days. He returned to the game after spinal fusion surgery.

The 17-year-old U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim, who became the youngest woman to win a gold medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, was named Action Sportswoman of the Year. Slovakian alpine skier Henrieta Farkašová and her guide Natalia Subrtova won the Sports Person of the Year with a Disability award after winning four gold medals in downhill, giant slalom, super combined and super-G plus silver in slalom at the Pyeongchang Paralympics.

The Awards, attended by sports stars, celebrities and leaders from around the world, also highlighted the influential work of Laureus Sport for Good. In 2018, nearly 300,000 young people around the world directly benefited from more than 160 Laureus Sport for Good-supported programs in 40 countries that work to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage by using sport as a vehicle for change.

Yuwa, a sports and development organization working in the rural Jharkhand region of northern India, received the Laureus Sport for Good Award for its life-changing work in using soccer to improve the lives of young girls from disadvantaged communities. Through soccer, the girls overcome violence, build self-confidence and begin to change perceptions of what a girl from a rural village in India can achieve. A key focus of Laureus Sport for Good is to promote equality, empowerment and safety for young women and girls. Of the 296,300 children and young people Laureus Sport for Good reached globally in 2018, 49% were young women and girls. 

The Laureus World Sports Academy awarded marathon world record breaker Eliud Kipchoge with the Laureus Academy Award for Exceptional Performance. Kipchoge, who ran the fastest time ever in Berlin with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds, broke the previous record by 1 minute and 18 seconds. 

Legendary soccer manager Arsène Wenger received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to soccer during his 22 years as coach of Arsenal. During his time there, he led "The Invincibles" to a full season without defeat and made a significant contribution to English soccer through his approach to scouting, training and diet, as well as his emphasis on an attacking mentality. Arsène received a guard of honor at the ceremony from legendary Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and soccer legends Alessandro Del Piero, Luis Figo, Fabio Capello, Didier Deschamps, Cafu and Alex Scott. The Arsène Award was presented by Cesc Fabregas. 

Ski racer Lindsey Vonn's incredible career has been recognized by the Laureus Academy with the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award. The Spirit of Sport Award is given at the discretion of the Academy to recognize an athlete or team that has achieved remarkable success and has worked tirelessly for their sport. The greatest skier of all time has announced her retirement from the sport. Vonn is one of only two skiers to win a total of four World Cups and a record eight World Cup downhill titles. 

Inspirational Chinese climber Xia Boyu received the most votes in the global Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year public vote. Xia was recognized for his efforts to become only the second double amputee to climb Mount Everest and the first to reach the summit from the Nepalese side. Xia was among the top three Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year nominees at the awards in Monaco alongside South Africa's first black Test captain Siya Kolisi and Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, who is battling Moto Neuron disease.