Valerie Adams. File photo / NZ Herakd
Double Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards for the first time in her career.
Adams, who went unbeaten through all competitions in 2014, will be looking to add the award to the IAAF sportswomen of the year title won in November.
Fellow nominees are tennis players Serena Williams and Li Na, Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjorgen, Ethiopian middle and long-distance runner Genzebe Dibaba and Slovenian alpine skier Tina Maze.
Serena Williams has won the award twice before, the last being in 2010.
In the male category, tennis player Novak Djokovic, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, golf's world number one Rory McIlroy, pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie and MotoGP driver Marc Márquez are up for the award.
