The awards, which recognise sporting achievement in 2010, are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar, with the winners announced at a star-studded televised ceremony in Abu Dhabi next month.

Ennis followed in the steps of the great Carolina Kluft by adding the 2010 European Championship heptathlon title to her World Championship gold medal of 2009, setting a new championship record of 6,823 points – the highest score in the world in 2010.

Kluft, now retired from the event to concentrate on long jump, said she expected Ennis to pass her European record points total of 7,032 at some stage in the future.

Ennis is on the shortlist for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award along with three tennis players - Belgium's Kim Clijsters, three-time Laureus winner Serena Williams and Denmark's world number one Caroline Wozniacki – plus American ski star Lindsey Vonn and Croatian high jump sensation Blanka Vlasic.

Athletics legend and Laureus Academy member Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, said: "In a couple of years Jessica has turned herself into one of the best athletes in the world and she just seems to be getting better and better.

"Everyone in Britain will be hoping that she can carry this brilliant form through to 2012 and win an Olympic gold medal in London.

"She thoroughly deserves her nomination after an immensely successful year."



Nottingham-born Jamie Bestwick (pictured) claimed his seventh gold medal in BMX Vert at the 2010 X Games, earning the event's first-ever four-peat in the process.

At this year's Dew Tour Championships, he took home the overall Dew Cup even after riding finals with a herniated disc.

It was his fifth straight Vert title and earned him nomination for the Laureus World Action Sports Award, along with the world's two top surfers, Australia's Stephanie Gilmore and American Kelly Slater, Spanish windsurfer Victor Fernandez, New Zealand's freestyle moto-cross rider Levi Sherwood and US snowboarder Shaun White.

Europe were strong favourites to win the biennial Ryder Cup match against the United States at Celtic Manor in South Wales in October.

In the end they succeeded, but the result was much closer than had been predicted.

The three-day match was weather affected, but that only seemed to add to the drama as the European team, captained by Colin Montgomerie, beat the Americans 14½-13½.

Europe, which included Englishmen Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and Irishmen Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, have been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award along with the Spain World Cup team, Champions League winners Inter Milan, NBA winners Los Angeles Lakers, the Red Bull Formula One team and the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.

The winners, as voted by the Laureus World Sports Academy - made up of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time - will be unveiled on February 7.


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