World No 1 Djokovic honoured at Laureus Awards as London celebrates sporting year

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic added to his ever-growing trophy cabinet this evening by winning the Laureus world sportsman of the year award at a glittering ceremony in London.

Djokovic enjoyed a stellar 2011, clinching the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open grand slam titles.

The Serbian world No 1 collected his latest gong at a ceremony in London which was attended by luminaries from the sporting world such as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, former Ajax and Barcelona star Johan Cruyff, and five-time Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave.

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Another one for the collection: Novak Djokovic poses with his Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award trophy

Centre of attention: Prime Minister David Cameron poses with sporting celebrities before the awards

Northern Irish golfer Darren Clarke was awarded the comeback of the year award for winning the Open Championship at the age of 42, and compatriot Rory McIlroy won the breakthrough of the year gong after lifting the US Open.

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton was given the lifetime achievement award and 'Blade Runner' athlete Oscar Pistorius won the Laureus disability award after becoming the first amputee to win a track medal in a non-disabled World Championships - a silver in the 4x400metre relay.

Champions League winners Barcelona were named Laureus team of the year while Kenyan long-distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot took home the sportswoman of the year award.

World of golf: Darren Clarke (above) and Rory McIlroy (below) were also handed gongs at the awards ceremony

Djokovic said: 'I have to say it's an extreme pleasure being part of such a great event.

'It's a spectacular feeling. It's difficult to describe how good it feels in words for me, for my family.

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'What stands out most for me in these two days I spent in London is getting to know the legends of sport and practically absorbing every word they said.'

Djokovic won the award a week after retaining his Australian Open crown in a record-breaking final that lasted almost six hours.

Sharing a joke: Sir Alex Ferguson accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Bobby Charlton

Hosts: Model Bar Refaeli and former boxer Lennox Lewis on stage at the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards

'It's been a week and I think physically I'm recovering,' he said. 'At this age, there are no excuses. I have to recover.'

He added of the final: 'My impressions are the same. It's been the most exciting match of my life. We went the distance of six hours, made history.'

Blade runner: Steve Rider hands the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability trophy to Oscar Pistorius

Asked if he could win the Grand Slam this season, he added: 'I think everything is possible. I have to stay optimistic. I have to believe in what I do and believe in my abilities and that I can win on all surfaces.