Kevin Spacey attended the awards ceremony. (AP)

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Abu Dhabi - Swimmer Natalie du Toit of South Africa earned the Laureus Disability award. Du Toit is one of five athletes to have competed in the Paralympics and Olympics, after swimming in both events in Beijing in 2008.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won his second Laureus Sportsman of the Year award and American tennis player Serena Williams won the women's prize.

Bolt won three gold medals at last year's athletics world championships and set world records in the 100m and 200m races. Williams, who also earned the award for a second time, won the Australian Open and Wimbledon and regained the No. 1 ranking.

The Laureus Sports Awards recognize achievements in 2009.

Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters earned the award for the Comeback of the Year. Clijsters won the U.S. Open last year after she was absent from tennis for almost two years, getting married and giving birth.

Two of the winners came from Formula One.

Britain's Jenson Button won the Breakthrough of the Year Award after winning his first drivers' championship, and the Brawn F1 outfit he drove for earned the award for the Team of the Year after almost going out of business in the off-season.

Three-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia was named World Action Sportsperson of the Year.

List of Laureus Award winners:

Sportsman of the Year - Usain Bolt, Jamaica (Athletics)

Sportswoman of the Year - Serena Williams, United States (Tennis)

Team of the Year - Brawn GP, Britain (Auto racing)

Comeback of the Year - Kim Clijsters, Belgium (Tennis)

Breakthrough of the Year - Jenson Button, Britain (Auto racing)

Action Sportsperson of the Year - Stephanie Gilmore, Australia (Surfing)

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability - Natalie du Toit, South Africa (Swimming)