Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic and multiple world champion gymnast Simone Biles were named sports people of the year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Djokovic matched Usain Bolt's achievement by winning the sportsman of the year award for the fourth time - after he previously earned the honour in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
Roger Federer holds the record for most men's top gongs with five.
Serb Djokovic won his fourth Wimbledon title and third US Open in 2018, and then his 15th grand slam by winning the Australian Open in January.
"I did think about leaving tennis," Djokovic said on Monday.
"I did not find myself in a good balance. It took me several months to find that purpose and meaning again.
"This award reflects and symbolises this journey.
He pipped five-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, NBA superstar LeBron James, France World Cup winning footballer Kylian Mbappe, world footballer of the year Luka Modric and marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge to the gong.
American Biles overcame tennis aces Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber, winter Olympics gold medallists Ester Ledecka and Mikaela Shiffrin and four-time triathlon world champion Daniela Ryf to take the women's award.
Four-times Rio Olympic gold medallist Biles won three individual gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the 2018 world championships along with gold in the team event.
Team of the year was the France football side for winning the World Cup in Russia.
Disability sportsperson of the year went to Slovakia's visually impaired skier Henrieta Farkasova after three gold medals at the Pyeongchang Paralympics.
Further awards went to tennis player Naomi Osaka in the breakthrough category, golfer Tiger Woods for the comeback of the year and snowboarder Chloe Jim in the action category.
Lindsey Vonn, who retired during the recent Alpine skiing world championships, took home the Spirit of Sport Award, which is given to an athlete for relentless dedication to his or her career.
Veteran football coach Arsene Wenger, who left Arsenal at the end of last season, was given a lifetime achievement award.
A special prize went to the Indian sport development programme Yuwa which supports young women in the country through football training and educates them in protection from violence and child-marriage.
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