The Tribune

LONDON (AP) -- Novak Djokovic won the top individual honour at the 2012 Laureus Sports Awards, and Barcelona captured the team prize. The top-ranked Djokovic won sportsman of the year at the ceremony in London, one week after the Serbian triumphed at the Australian Open to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three Grand Slam titles in a row. Barcelona was recognised as the best team after a stellar 2011 in which Pep Guardiola's players won the Spanish league and Champions League. Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, winner of the 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the world championships last year, took the sportswoman's award. Darren Clarke was honoured with the comeback of the year award. The 43-year-old Northern Irishman won his first golf major by capturing the British Open at Royal St George's last year. Compatriot Rory McIlroy won the breakthrough of the year award for the 22-year-old's eight-shot win at the US Open at Congressional, becoming the second-youngest player to win a major since 1934. Bobby Charlton was given the lifetime achievement award 54 years to the day after surviving the Munich air disaster that killed eight members of his Manchester United team. The 74-year-old Charlton was unable to personally receive the award. Laureus officials said he felt ill Sunday and returned to Manchester on Monday for unspecified minor surgery. United manager Alex Ferguson accepted the award on Charlton's behalf. He said Charlton is fine but "very annoyed" at not being able to attend the ceremony. Double amputee Oscar Pistorius won the disability award. The South African 400-meter specialist won a silver medal in the relay at the able-bodied world championships last year in Daegu, South Korea. The winners were chosen by 47 sports stars who make up the Laureus sports academy.