The Rossi won the Laureus Academy

At a ceremony held today in Abu Dhabi
The «Laureus World Sports Awards» is renowned awards are given once a year since 2000, athletes who did something special during the past year.
Relevant Academy, which counts 46 distinguished members, was founded in 1999 and the first award was made in May 2000. This option has two stages. First, a panel of leading journalists engaged in sports, with representatives from 80 countries to vote out a list of 6 candidates in each category. After 46 members of the Academy «Laureus World Sports Academy», by secret ballot proclaim the winners. The tremendous return to action of Valentino Rossi, after a serious accident, was recognized by the Academy and in 2011 the Italian won the award in the category «Comeback of the Year» (Back of the Year).

Among the 46 members from the world of motorsport are only three persons who Giacomo Agostini, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Hakkinen. For example, Tennis has 5 members, Golf 3 members, while the Sport of Athletics has 8 members - even the President is known obstructer medalist Edwin Moses.
Most of the then 46 (coincidence number), estimated that Rossi returned to racing action just 41 days (in German GP), after the terrible accident (at Mugello).
O Spaniard Rafael Nadal was named «Sportsman of the Year» (Athlete of the Year) and the American skier Lindsey Vonn «Sportswoman of the Year» (Athlete of the Year).

The Rossi has won the statuette in 2006 (see photo) when he took the «Spirit of Sport Award» (Award for Spirit of Sport).
Another important distinction, therefore, the only motorcyclist who has been honored in the history of this institution.