Du Preez won double gold medals in the time trial and road race In the H1 class at the Para-Cycling World Championships and finished the season No.1 in the world rankings.
In wheelchair competition, the 35-year-old broke the 10,000 metres T51 world record and set new African records in the 200, 1,500 and 10,000 metres. He is the 2015 world No.1 at 800, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres.
Back in 2013, he famously became the first quadriplegic to complete an ironman triathlon.
He said, “It is one of the biggest honours in my life and I am extremely humbled to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award. I am very proud to represent not only my country, South Africa, but also quadriplegics and tetraplegics all over the world.”
A glittering collection of the world’s greatest sports stars have also been nominated for the 2016 Laureus Awards, following a ballot by the world’s media.
The contest for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award promises to be the hottest ever.
Nominees include three-time Laureus winner Usain Bolt, tennis No.1 Novak Djokovic, triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
They are joined by first time Nominees Stephen Curry, star of NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and golf’s world No.1 Jordan Spieth.
