New Zealand Paralympian Sophie Pascoe has been nominated for the prestigious international Laureus Sports Awards disabled athlete of the year.
Sophie Pascoe. Photo: Photosport
Swimmer Pascoe, who won three gold and two silver medals at the Rio Paralympics, is up against five other Paralympians for the gong.
Pascoe is the only New Zealander nominated in any category.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, American basketballers Stephen Curry and LeBron James, British runner Mo Farah, British tennis player Andy Murray and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated for sportsman of the year.
In the sportswoman of the year category, Germany's Australian Open tennis champion and World No.1 Angelique Kerber, American multiple Rio gold medal winning gymnast Simone Biles, American runner Allyson Felix, Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson, American swimmer Katie Ledecky and British cyclist Laura Kenny are the nominees.
Fiji's men's rugby sevens team have been nominated for the breakthrough of the year award following their gold medal performance in Rio.
Mercedes are nominated for the third straight year for the team of the year, along with three football teams; European Champions Portugal, Champions League winners Real Madrid and Neymar-inspired Olympic gold medal winners Brazil.
American teams Chicago Cubs, winner of their first baseball World Series for 108 years, and NBA Champions Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, are also shortlisted.
Australia's surfing world champion Tyler Wright is the only Australian nominated, he's up for the action sportsperson of the year award.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Monaco on February 14.
-AAP/RNZ