Schalk wins comeback of year award
Burger's fightback from a life-threatening illness to once again play a key role in the South African national team is one of the most inspirational sporting stories of the year.
He beat off the challenges of Italian soccer player Francesco Acerbi, Diego Milito (Argentina, soccer), Jo Pavey (United Kingdom, athletics), Pierre Vaultnier (France, snowboarding) and Oliver Wilson (UK, golf).
Burger, who turned 32 on Monday, has been playing Test rugby for almost 12 years.
He has represented South Africa 75 times and was a World Cup winner in 2007.
Burger fought through injuries and life-threatening meningitis to return to the Springbok team in 2014.
He had a cyst next to his spinal chord and went into hospital for treatment, but developed bacterial meningitis and was moved to intensive care.
He recovered and made a remarkable comeback, being picked for the Springbok squad to play against Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.
Then he was named man of the match in the November victory over England at Twickenham, in which he scored the decisive third try.
Doctors said the average person would never have made it back to top class competition, let alone be named man of the match in such a high pressure game.
"There was a critical stage for nearly five days in which there was a lot of uncertainty," Burger said.
"I was in isolation and I was seriously ill, so ill in fact that some people around me thought 'this is it'."
His parents were called to the hospital to say 'goodbye'.
Oregan Hoskins, President of the South African Rugby Union, paid tribute to Burger for his achievement.
"What Schalk has gone through in the last couple of years and what he has achieved makes it one of the most inspirational sporting stories in our recent history," said Hoskins.
"He has been an icon of inspiration and the fact that he always seems to have a smile on his face, makes it even more joyous to watch Schalk in action.
"On behalf of everyone in South African rugby, I would like to congratulate him on this amazing achievement but knowing Schalk, I know he will be itching to get back to Perth where the Stormers are playing on Saturday."
Burger is a two-time SA Rugby Player of the Year winner (2004 and 2011) and was also the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004.
He attended the glittering ceremony in Shanghai on Wednesday and will return to Perth in time for the Stormers' match against the Force on Saturday.
Laureus World Sports Academy Member and All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick said: "The story of Schalk's recovery is amazing. He not only survived such a serious illness, but in a relatively short time he was back in the Springboks team and winning matches for them. What a great tribute to his fighting spirit. All he needs now to complete this remarkable comeback is to have a wonderful World Cup later this year."
Former Springboks captain Morné du Plessis, who was also manager of the 1995 World Cup winning team, said: "I have known Schalk and his family for many years and I know that there were very real concerns for his well-being during his illness. It really was a great relief for his family, friends and supporters to just see him well again, not even to think at that stage that he would make a miraculous comeback and be back to his best on the rugby pitch.
"I am sure he will have his eye on making a big impact in the World Cup for the Springboks. Schalk is also a responsible and caring human being who has done a great deal to support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in South Africa and he has been a wonderful Ambassador for Laureus."