Biles wins third Laureus award; Messi, Hamilton share men's

Gymnastics star Simone Biles was named Laureus Sportswoman of Year for third time on Monday, while Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton shared men's award.

Biles won five gold medals, including a record fifth all-around title, at 2019 world championships in Stuttgart. That made her most decorated gymnast ever at worlds with 25 medals.

“re cant be many sportsmen or women who dominate ir sports way she has in gymnastics,” five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci said. “We have to keep remembering that she is just 22, and she is likely to win ar stack of gold medals in Tokyo Olympics.”

men's award was shared for first time, with Messi and Hamilton getting an equal share of votes from fans worldwide.

Messi became first soccer player to get award after helping lead Barcelona to Spanish league title, while Hamilton won his sixth Formula One championship.

“I am hored to be first to win this award being a sportsperson coming from a team sport, and t an individual sport which is usually case,” Messi said in a videotaped mess.

Biles was one of three Americans recognized at award ceremony in Berlin.

Swboarder Chloe Kim won her second straight Action Sportsperson of Year award and Ukraine-born Oksana Masters was named Disability Sportsperson of Year.

19-year-old Kim followed up her Olympic halfpipe gold from 2018 by winning world championship title last year, along with superpipe title at Winter X Games.

Masters, who was born with deformities caused by radiation from Cherbyl, was adopted at of 7 by an American single mor from an orphan in Ukraine.

Last year, Masters won five gold medals and a silver at World Para rdic Skiing Championships, and overall World Cup title. 30-year-old Masters also won silver medals in road race and time trial H5 at Para Cycling Road World Championships.

German basketball great Dirk witzki, who retired last year after a 21-year career with Dallas Mavericks, was hored with a Lifetime Achievement award and described as “greatest European basketball player ever.”