Another one for the collection. The prestigious daily newspaper L’Equipe awarded the best athlete of the year award to Rafael Nadal.

Rafa is the newest ‘Champions des Champions’ (Champion of Champions), and figures amongst other athletic greats such as Carl Lewis, Ayrton Senna, Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Zinedine Zidane or Usain Bolt who have also won the award. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and the Formula 1 pilot Sebastian Vettel finished second and third, respectively. Rafa said Paris has been the “most important city” of his sporting career. He described 2013, in which he returned to the ATP Tour after a months-long injury hiatus to have one of his best years, as “full of emotions.” Our champion also was named the L’Equipe Champion of Champions in 2010. Congratulations Rafa!