Federer one of top two contenders for sportsman of year nominations 24/01/2008 00:00

Federer and Woods are so far leading the Laureus sportsman of the year nominations.

LONDON - Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were nominated Thursday for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.

The other contenders are American sprinter Tyson Gay, Brazilian soccer player Kaka, American swimmer Michael Phelps and Finnish race car driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Federer, who has won the Laureus award the past three years, is looking to win his 13th Grand Slam title this weekend at the Australian Open. The top-ranked Swiss player again won three of the four major titles last year.

Woods, a previous two-time Laureus winner, won the PGA Championship last year to bring his total of major titles to 13.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who won the women's award last year, was again nominated for 2008.

The other women nominees were: Belgian tennis player Justine Henin, Swedish heptathlete Carolina Kluft, Australian swimmer Libby Lenton, Brazilian soccer player Marta and Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa.

The nominees were chosen by international sports journalists. The winners will be selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy and announced in St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 8.

AC Milan, Ferrari and Iraq's national soccer team were among the contenders for world team of the year.

In the breakthrough of the year category, double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius of South Africa was nominated along with US Open tennis finalist Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

British runner Christine Ohuruogo, who came back from a doping-related suspension to win the 400-meter race at the world championships last year, was nominated for comeback of the year. Marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe of Britain and American golfer Steve Stricker were also nominated.

[Copyright ap 2008]