Tuesday March 25th, 2003
Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher and golf's number one Tiger Woods are among the nominees for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
American Woods won the award at the first two "sporting Oscars" while Germany's Schumacher took the prize for his achievements in 2001.
The other nominees for the men's award are Brazil soccer player Ronaldo, Norway's Olympic biathlon champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of the US, the organisers said in a statement.
Athletes Marion Jones of the US and Briton Paula Radcliffe are in the frame for the women's award along with women's tennis number one Serena Williams, Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam and Croatia's Olympic skiing champion Janica Kostelic.
Jennifer Capriati won the women's award last year when Sorenstam was also nominated.
Nominees for the team of 2002 award are soccer World Champions Brazil, European soccer champions Real Madrid, Olympic ice hockey champions Canada, Formula One's Ferrari and Europe's Ryder Cup-winning golf team.
Tennis players Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Argentine David Nalbandian, Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, English soccer player Wayne Rooney and Dutch Olympic speedskater Jochem Uytdehaage are in line for the newcomer's award.
The nominees were voted for by more than 400 sports journalists from 75 countries. The winners will be announced on May 20 in Monte Carlo.
Published at 11:23:52 GMT