Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo has become the first Australian in five years to win a prestigious Laureus award, taking out the breakthrough of the year title in Shanghai on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old was honoured for his stellar debut season with Red Bull Racing in 2014, in which he claimed three grand prix victories plus five podium finishes.
He was the only non-Mercedes driver to win a race and ended the year third in the overall driver's championship.
Ricciardo is in Bahrain for Sunday's grand prix and couldn't be at Shanghai's Grand Theatre, but in a video message said it was a privilege to earn the award.
"2014 is a year I'll remember for a long time - it was definitely a breakthrough in my mind as well," he said.
"Standing on the top step of the podium a few times was icing on the cake."
He was joined by another Australian on the winners list, as skateboarder Oliver Percovich received the Sport for Good award.
Percovich in 2007 founded Skateistan - an organisation to help improve the lives youngsters in Afghanistan through skateboarding.
It has since built a school and indoor skate park in Kabul, and Mazar-e-Sharif and also funded construction of an indoor skate park in Phnom-Penh, Cambodia.
Not since 2010 has an Australian won a Laureus, when surfing queen Stephanie Gilmore was named action sportsperson of the year.
Gilmore was again nominated for the award, but lost out to American skydiver Alan Eustace.
Only six other Australians have received the Cartier-crafted trophy, including Layne Beachley (2004), Cathy Freeman (2001) and Louise Sauvage (2000).
Winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a panel made up of 50 sporting greats, including four Australians.
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