International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Sir Philip Craven sent his congratulations to German skier Verena Bentele after she picked up the Disability Award at Monday’s spectacular 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards.
The 28-year-old visually impaired skier picked up five gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and beat off stiff competition to pick up the prestigious award.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognize sporting achievement, are the premier honors on the international sporting calendar and were held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Recipients are chosen by a jury comprised of 46 sportsmen and women.
“Congratulations must go to Verena on this fantastic achievement. To win five gold medals at a Paralympic Games is major achievement, but so is recognition from your peers. Verena should be delighted that some of the biggest names in world sport have judged her the winner,” Craven stated in a press release. “This year the standard was extremely high which makes me particularly proud as it underlines the growing strength of Paralympic Sport.”
