Schumacher wins at "sports Oscars" but stays silent
Philippa Moreton
Michael Schumacher won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year on Tuesday, three days after his controversial win in the Austrian Grand Prix which critics said undermined his sport's image.
The Formula One champion edged out golf's world number one Tiger Woods, winner for the last two years of "sports Oscars", who had completed a unique set of four grand slam titles with the 2001 U.S. Masters.
But for the first time in the three-year history of the event, the winner of the award refused to give a news conference after the prize-giving.
A Laureus spokesman declined to comment on Schumacher's snub.
The German was at the centre of a major controversy at the weekend when he won in Spielberg at the expense of his Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello.
The Brazilian had led the race from the start but slowed in the final few metres, on team orders, to allow the four-times world champion and leader of this season's standings to win the race.
Schumacher's critics, including three-times World champion Jackie Stewart on Tuesday, said the tactic was against the spirit of the sport and added that the German was a big enough figure to ignore the team's instructions.
He now faces an investigation alongside Barrichello and his team by the sport's governing body FIA on June 26 in Paris into the incident.
Schumacher fought off three times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and American sprinter Maurice Greene to win the award at the sports equivalent of the Oscars.
He has completely dominated this season again, winning five out of six races so far and is heading towards a record-equalling fifth title.
Another grand prix driver, Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams won the Laureus Newcomer of the Year award.
Speaking to reporters after receiving his award Montoya said Schumacher's win had been unnecessary and the events had damaged Ferrari's image.
"Michael was winning the championship. But as long as the rules allow it to happen, they will do it... But it was very surprising.
He said he did not believe Schumacher was to blame however.
"I saw Michael's face. I could see that Michael didn't have much to do with it. he was surprised by team orders too."
Asked if he would do the same he said: "It depends on the position you're in, but I don't think you should do it...The rules should be a bit more clear."
Jennifer Capriati, French and Australian Open tennis champion, won the award for Sportswoman of the Year, beating stiff competition from compatriot Venus Williams, who won the other two grand slams last year, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Capriati, who last year won the comeback of the year award, was up against world champion Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn, American pole vaulter Stacy Dragila and Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam, as well as Venus Williams, for the women's title.
AMAZING VICTORY
Goran Ivanisevic's amazing victory at Wimbledon in 2001 earned him the title of this year's World Comeback of the Year.
The Croatian, who had entered the tournament as a wildcard after dropping to 125th in the rankings, beat Australian Pat Rafter in a nailbiting final to clinch the title.
The Australian cricket team, who stretched their winning run of test matches to 16 last year, were named World Team of the Year.
In the remaining categories, Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer was voted World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and Brazilian skateboarder Bob Burnquist won the Alternative Sportsperson of the Year award.
Sporting personalities and celebrities visited the Laureus event, now in its third year, from all over the world.
