ABs, Sherwood nominated for world sports awards

The All Blacks rugby team and New Zealand freestyle motocross rider Levi Sherwood are finalists at the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Following a ballot by the world's media, the national rugby team and Sherwood will line up alongside a glittering lineup of sporting stars at the annual ceremony in Abu Dhabi on February 7.

The All Blacks dominated world rugby last year, marching unbeaten through the Tri-Nations and winning 13 of 14 tests. It is the third time they have made the awards shortlist.

Also nominated for the team award are the Spain World Cup soccer team, Champions League soccer winners Inter Milan, the European Ryder Cup golf team, National Basketball Association winners the Los Angeles Lakers and the Red Bull Formula One Team.

Palmerston North-born Sherwood, 18, won two of the classic events on the Red Bull X-Fighters Tour last year in Moscow and London.

In Moscow's Red Square in June, he fought off strong opposition from world champion Nate Adams to win. Six weeks later in the grounds of London's Battersea Power Station, he kept a cool head in front of 30,000 fans as he threw down huge trick after huge trick to beat Adams again.

In his first X Games appearance in July, Levi won the silver medal.

List of finalists:

Sportsman of the Year
Kobe Bryant (US) Basketball
Andres Iniesta (Spain) Soccer
Lionel Messi (Argentina) Soccer
Rafael Nadal (Spain) Tennis
Manny Pacquiao (Philippines) Boxing
Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Motor Racing

Sportswoman of the Year
Kim Clijsters (Belgium) Tennis
Jessica Ennis (UK) Athletics
Blanka Vlasic (Croatia) Athletics
Lindsey Vonn (US) Alpine Skiing
Serena Williams (US) Tennis
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) Tennis

Team of the Year
ALL BLACKS (New Zealand) Rugby
European Ryder Cup Team - Golf
Inter Milan (Italy) Soccer
Los Angeles Lakers (US) Basketball
Red Bull Formula One Team (Austria)
Spain World Cup Team - Soccer

Breakthrough of the Year
Martin Kaymer (Germany) Golf
Christophe Lemaitre (France) Athletics
Matteo Manassero (Italy) Golf
Thomas Muller (Germany) Soccer
Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) Golf
Teddy Tamgho (France) Athletics

Comeback of the Year
Paula Creamer (US) Golf
Tyson Gay (US) Athletics
Justine Henin (Belgium) Tennis
Carolina Kluft (Sweden) Athletics
Merlene Ottey (Slovenia) Athletics
Valentino Rossi (Italy) Motor Cycling

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability
Verena Bentele (Germany) Skiing/Biathlon
Matt Cowdrey (Australia) Swimming
Daniel Dias (Brazil) Swimming
Jakub Krako (Slovakia) Alpine Skiing
Esther Vergeer (Netherlands) Wheelchair Tennis
Lauren Woolstencroft (Canada) Alpine Skiing

Action Sportsperson of the Year
Jamie Bestwick (UK) BMX
Victor Fernandez (Spain) Windsurfing
Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) Surfing
LEVI SHERWOOD (New Zealand) Freestyle Motocross
Kelly Slater (US) Surfing
Shaun White (US) Snowboarding

- NZPA