By IANS
St. Petersburg : Russian Olympian gymnast Alexei Nemov and Finnish Formula 1 racer Mika Hakkinen have been named the new entrants to the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Their election, announced at the 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards held here Monday, has increased the membership of Laureus Academy of world’s legendary sportsmen and sportswomen to 45.
Hakinnen, 40, is twice Formula One world champion, winning the World Championship for the first time in 1993 and clinching his second title in Japan in 1994.
He retired from Formula One in 2001 and competed in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Mercedes Benz before ending his career from all forms of the game in November 2007.
Nemov, 31, has 12 Olympic medals to his credit.
“It is a great honour for me to work alongside this most distinguished and awe-inspiring group of athletes who have come together in support of this unique organisation. They are a powerful force and it gives me great pleasure to increase their power by inducting two new academy members,” said Edwin Moses, Chairman, Laureus Academy.
Top names from the world of sports who are associated with the Academy include German tennis legend Boris Becker, former England cricket captain Ian Botham, Ukraine’s Olympic pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, athlete Michael Johnson of the US, American tennis star John McEnroe and former Australian cricket skipper Steve Waugh.