Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade got the Comeback of the Year award ahead of India's very own Rishabh Pant for her inspirational return from a series of career-threatening injuries
Shining pole vault star Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, while America's all-time great gymnast Simone Biles claimed the top women's honour at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday, April 21. (More Sports News)
Duplantis, all of 25 yet considered by many as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, got fourth-time lucky after being nominated in each of the last three years. He became only the second track-and-field athlete after four-time winner Usain Bolt to claim the prestigious award.
Duplantis had won his second World Indoor Championship gold medal in March and broke his own world record for an incredible ninth time in 2024 en route to Olympic gold in Paris.
The Swede-American got more votes than Spanish tennis spearhead Carlos Alcaraz, France's swimming sensation Leon Marchand, Slovenia's cycling titan Tadej Pogacar and Netherlands' Formula One mainstay Max Verstappen.
"I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me..." Duplantis said.
Biles, who returned to action after a break, bagged three gold and one silver medal in a stunning comeback at the Paris Olympics to claim her fourth Laureus award -- equalling the record held by Serena Williams. Both the athletes also have one Comeback of the Year honour.
"I'm so happy to be here in Madrid and to receive my fourth Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award," said Biles, who topped the polls ahead of Spain's World Cup-winning footballer Aitana Bonmati, Netherlands' versatile middle-distance runner Sifan Hassan, Kenya's legendary middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon, USA's star hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Belarus' world number one tennis player Aryna Sabalenka.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade got the Comeback of the Year award ahead of India's very own Rishabh Pant for her inspirational return from a series of career-threatening injuries. Andrade, who contemplated quitting after three ACL injuries, made a triumphant return by winning gold in the floor exercise at the Paris Games.
"This beautiful Laureus Statuette represents a huge amount of hard work, of struggle and pain, and also great happiness," she said.
Apart from Pant, Andrade surpassed USA's Caeleb Dressel (swimming), Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami (alpine skiing), Spain's Marc Marquez (motor cycling) and Australian Ariarne Titmus (swimming).
Real Madrid were adjudged the Laureus World Team of the Year following a dominant campaign that saw them win La Liga for a record 36th time, clinch their 15th UEFA Champions League title, and defeat Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana.
They also lifted the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup early in the 2024-25 season, making Carlo Ancelotti the most decorated manager in the club's history.
Tennis titan Rafael Nadal was conferred the Laureus Sporting Icon Award in a year he announced his retirement from professional tennis.
"Back in 2006 I won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award in Barcelona... Tennis and sports in general has given me so much...," Nadal said.
Tom Pidcock won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award for his dramatic Olympic mountain bike cross country gold. After suffering a puncture, the British cyclist fought back to overtake home favourite Victor Koretsky in the final stages.
Pidcock became the fourth British cyclist to win the award after Jamie Bestwick (2014), Rachel Atherton (2017) and Beth Shriver (2022).
Paralympic swimmer Jiang Yuyan won the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award after claiming seven gold medals from as many events.
Teen football sensation Lamine Yamal received the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award. The Spanish winger became the youngest player to score and feature in a European Championship final and was named the tournament라이브 바카라 Best Young Player.
Kelly Slater, widely regarded as the greatest surfer of all time, received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. Slater is a four-time winner of the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award and an 11-time World Surf League champion.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life
Laureus Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater.
(With PTI inputs)