University Southern California Trojans
Sanchez Honored With Laureus World Comeback Award
March 15, 2013 | Track & Field
March 15, 2013
2012 Olympic 400m IH gold medalist Felix Sanchez was presented with the World Comeback of the Year Award at the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on March 10, which was hosted by Hollywood stars Morgan Freeman and Eva Longoria. The Laureus World Sports Awards recognize sporting achievement during the calendar year and are among the premier honors on the international sporting calendar. The winners are voted for by the Laureus World Sports Academy, which is a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sporting legends who volunteer their time to promote the "Sport for Good" message and use the power of sport to help tackle the world's most devastating social challenges.
Felix was given the Comeback of the Year Award as he won the 400m IH at the 2012 London Olympics, eight years after winning gold in the event at the 2004 Athens Olympics with the exact same time of 47.63. Sanchez is the USC record holder in the 400m IH and won the 2000 NCAA title in the event while at USC (1999-2000).
"Winning the Laureus Comeback Award means the world to me, especially knowing how hard it is to do this in the sport of athletics," said an emotional Sanchez. "Coming back is very rare and for about 10 years now I have wanted to win a Laureus Award. Having a legend like Edwin Moses, who also ran in the 400 hurdles, as part of the Laureus Academy, it just means that much more to me."
Said Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses, who also won the Olympic 400 meter hurdles gold medal twice, in 1976 in Montreal and 1984 in Los Angeles, "Having trained for and competed in the 400 meters hurdles for over 12 years, believe me I can tell you this is one of the toughest events in track and field. That Felix Sanchez came back at the age of 34 to win a gold medal almost defies belief. He had a terrible time with injuries over the eight years since he won his first gold medal in Athens, but it shows amazing tenacity to be able to keep your spirit going and put in all the training you need to be successful. And then to have the perfect race plan and put it into action is a truly unforgettable achievement. He fully deserves this Laureus Award."
"My first gold in Athens was very special, obviously, it was my first and the first gold medal in the history of my country," added Sanchez. "But having dominated my sport for almost four years and having not lost a race in 43, it was all but a foregone conclusion. The one from London was different as I had not won a major race in years and was not being considered as a realistic medal hopeful. Last year I was more dedicated than ever knowing that it was my last real chance to win an Olympic medal after I had reached a point in my career where no one believed in me anymore. So to go in there against all odds and to run the exact same time as I had eight years before was the best feeling in the world."
The Awards were announced in seven categories. The winners were:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Usain Bolt
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Jessica Ennis
Laureus World Team of the Year: European Ryder Cup Team
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Andy Murray
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Felix Sanchez
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Daniel Dias
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Felix Baumgartner
There were two additional Awards: The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the newly created Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award was presented to Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.
