Rachel Atherton called it “the perfect end to the perfect season” after the mountain biker was crowned the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year.
The 29-year-old beat surfing world champions John Florence and Tyler Wright, snowboarder Chloe Kim, skateboarder Pedro Barros and freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru to the illustrious award in a star-studded ceremony in Monaco on Tuesday night.
Atherton was voted by Laureus Academy members for a season in which she completed a clean sweep by winning all the World Cups – taking her winning streak to 15 consecutive races – as well as being crowned world champion for a fourth time.
The Briton, who had to miss the ceremony because of a training camp in the United States, said: “I’m absolutely gutted I can’t be there tonight.
