The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards have announced their nominees, marking the countdown to a major event that will honour the year’s top athletic achievements.
This edition celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Laureus Awards, which have become the most prestigious honour in the sports world, voted on by a global panel of 69 legendary athletes.
The awards will highlight heroes from the 2024 Paris Olympics, world-record breakers, and exceptional sports performances.
Among the nominees for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, standout athletes from the Paris Olympics are prominently featured. Swimming sensation Léon Marchand, who won four golds for France, and pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis, who secured his second Olympic gold and set two world records, are in contention.
Also nominated is Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, who clinched two Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic silver medal, alongside Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, who claimed his fourth consecutive world title, and cyclist Tadej Pogačar, who achieved an extraordinary feat by winning the triple crown of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and World Championship.
The Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award features several exceptional athletes, including Simone Biles, nominated for her impressive Olympic return with three golds and a silver, and Aitana Bonmatí, who led FC Barcelona Women to a treble and won her second Ballon d’Or Féminin.
Other nominees include Sifan Hassan, who won marathon gold and two medals in track events, Faith Kipyegon, who made history as a three-time Olympic 1,500m champion, and Aryna Sabalenka, who became world No.1 after winning both the Australian Open and US Open.
Sifan Hassan
The Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award showcases rising stars from various sports.
Notable nominees include Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old footballer who played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and became the Kopa Trophy winner.
Other nominees include Julien Alfred, who brought home St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold, and Summer McIntosh, who earned three swimming golds in Paris.
In the Team of the Year category, FC Barcelona Women’s Football Team, Real Madrid, and Spain’s Men’s Football Team compete for recognition alongside McLaren Formula One Team, which ended a 26-year title drought.
The Boston Celtics, who claimed an NBA title, and the USA Men’s Basketball Team, who won Olympic gold, are also nominated.
The Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award honors athletes who have overcome significant challenges. Nominees include gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who triumphed at the Paris Olympics after multiple surgeries, and swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who made a successful return to the pool after prioritizing his mental health.
Other nominees include alpine skier Lara Gut-Behrami, who won her first World Cup title in eight years, and Marc Márquez, who ended a 1,000-day victory drought in motorcycling after a serious injury.
For the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, athletes such as Teresa Perales, who earned her 28th Paralympic medal, and Jiang Yuyan, who won seven golds at the Paralympics, are nominated.
Other notable athletes include wheelchair tennis champion Tokito Oda and para-archer Matt Stutzman, who became the first armless athlete to win Olympic gold.
The Laureus Sport for Good Award recognizes grassroots initiatives that use sport to make a positive impact. This year’s nominees include programs such as Kick4life in Lesotho, which uses football for gender equity, and Figure Skating in Harlem, which helps girls grow through the sport.
Other nominated programs focus on social inclusion, employability, and supporting youth at risk, such as Kind Surf in Spain and Street League in the UK.
The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards promises to be a celebration of global sports excellence, recognizing individuals and teams who have inspired through their achievements and resilience, while also supporting the power of sport to bring about social change.
