Sports stars named

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 26

Sports stars named

NZPA-AP London The American track star, Carl Lewis, and the Czechborn tennis champion, Martina Navratilova, have been chosen as sportsman and sportswoman of the year by Associated Press sports writers in Europe. The tennis player, John McEnroe, who lost only twice in tournament play, was the runner-up in the men’s category, while another American, Valerie Brisco-Hookes, who won three gold medals in track and field events at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, was placed second among the women honoured. Lewis dominated track events at the Games, winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 metre sprints, the 400 metre relay and the long jump. He equalled the record of the late Jesse Owens, who won gold medals in the four events at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Navratilova, after winning the French championship in June, became only the third female tennis player to win the Grand Slam, consecutive victories in the world’s four major tennis tournaments.

She was beaten in the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier this month by Czechoslovakia’s Helena Sukova. It was only her second defeat in' 78 singles matches during 1984.