South Africa's Oscar Pistorius was last night Monday presented with the Laureus Award for the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, at the 2012 Laureus Awards ceremony held at Central Hall, Westminster, in London.
The awards celebrate sporting personalities and teams for their performances in the previous year. The winners are determined by the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Pistorius, also referred to as the 'Blade Runner', received the award for becoming the first amputee to win a track medal in the non-disabled World Championships - a silver in the 4 x 400 metres relay in South Korea. Aided by carbon fibre blades, Pistorius was also a Paralympics gold medalist in 2008.
Novak Djokovic picked up the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. A relentless Djokovic won three Grand Slam events - the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open - and shot to the number one spot.
The Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award went to Kenya's long distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won gold medals in both the 5 000 and 10 000-metre events at the World Championships in Daegu.
FC Barcelona, a favourite among football fans in South Africa, scooped the Laureus World Team of the Year. The Spanish team continues to dominate European football and the domestic league.
The Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year went to youngster Rory McIlroy, who won the US Open, his first Major Championship.
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year was presented to Kelly Slater. This was Slater's fourth Laureus Award, equalling the record of Roger Federer, the only other four-time winner.
A Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to England football legend Bobby Charlton, while Rai Souza Vieira de Oliveira, the former Brazilian footballer, now social justice campaigner, won the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
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Steuart has done some 500 talks on South Africa's progress since 1994 and SA's prospects for the future' 
