Schumacher wins Spain's top sporting award

MADRID, Sep 5 (Reuters) Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was awarded Spain's top international sporting honour, the 2007 Principe de Asturias prize, today.

The 38-year-old German retired from competition last year bringing to a close a glittering 16-year career in which he registered 91 wins.

On top of his sporting success, the judges also recognised his humanitarian work and efforts to help the under-privileged in the world of sport.

It is the second time the award has gone to a Formula One driver after current world champion Fernando Alonso took it in 2005.

Other sporting figures up for this year's prize included Italian MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi, Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and leading tennis rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Previous winners have included seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, tennis great Martina Navratilova and athletes Carl Lewis and Sebastian Coe.

REUTERS SSC PM1645