Barcelona, May 23 :

Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer was named Laureus World Sportsman of the year for the second straight year here on Monday with the women’s honour going to Croatian skier Janica Kostelic.

Federer, 24, won the vote of Laureus Academy members ahead of other nominees such as another two-time winner US golfer Tiger Woods, Spanish F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Kostelic, 23, edged out Britain’s world marathon champion Paula Radcliffe, Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva, Swedish heptathlete Carolina Kluft and Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters.

There were awards also for Martina Hingis who took the Laureus Comeback of the Year recompense, Spanish tyro Rafael Nadal, who was named Newcomer of the Year, and the French F1 Constructors Champions Renault who won Team of the Year.