Biles and Duplantis Lead Winners at 25th Laureus World Sports Awards

Photo by AIPS

The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards took place in Madrid, celebrating the most outstanding global athletes and teams over the past year, while marking the award’s 25th anniversary.

Gymnastics queen Simone Biles claimed her fourth World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning three golds and a silver at the Paris Olympics, tying Serena Williams’ record. “The Laureus has always been part of my journey. It embodies the belief that sport can change the world,” Biles said.

Swedish pole vault star Mondo Duplantis won World Sportsman of the Year for the first time, having broken the world record twice in 2024 and winning Olympic and World Championship golds. “This means even more than winning Olympic gold,” he remarked.

Comeback of the Year went to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who returned to the top after three knee surgeries to win Olympic gold in floor exercise.

Spain’s 17-year-old football sensation Lamine Yamal took home Breakthrough of the Year, after a record-breaking run at the Euros.

Team of the Year was awarded to Real Madrid, who dominated the 2024 season with La Liga and Champions League titles.

China’s 19-year-old Paralympic swimmer Jiang Yuyan won Sportsperson with a Disability, after winning seven golds and breaking two world records, becoming the seventh Chinese Laureus awardee.

Additional honors included the Sporting Icon Award for Rafael Nadal, a Lifetime Achievement Award for surfing legend Kelly Slater, and the Sport for Good Award to Kick4Life, a Lesotho-based organization supporting youth education and gender equality.

Voted on by a panel of 69 sports legends, this year’s Laureus Awards highlighted how sport continues to inspire, heal, and drive change across the world.