Seb Coe has backed the claims of four Team GB stars nominated for next week's Laureus World Sports Awards in Rio de Janeiro.
The British Olympic Association and London 2012 chairman is a voting member of the 46-strong Laureus World Sports Academy, which includes some of the greatest sports stars of all-time.
Double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins have both been recognised in the sportsman of the year category while heptathlon gold medallist Jess Ennis is one the six-strong shortlist for sportswoman of the year.
Andy Murray's Olympic tennis men's singles gold and US Open triumph earns him a place among those contesting the breakthrough of the year prize while Paralympian David Weir is another face of London 2012 recognised in the disability sport category.
“I am not at all surprised that so many British athletes have been nominated for Laureus Awards after the superb showing by the British team in London," said Lord Coe.
"All five that have been shortlisted reached personal milestones at the Olympics and of course Andy Murray at the US Open and Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France achieved massive sporting breakthroughs away from London as well.
“Any one of the five deserves to win a Laureus Award for their great sporting successes in 2012 in what was a remarkable year for British sport.
"We wanted the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games to leave a legacy and encourage young people in the UK and around the world to take up sport and it is the example of great sportsmen and women like these which will provide the role models for the sports stars of tomorrow.”
© Sportsbeat 2013