Duplantis and Biles win Laureus World Sports Awards
MADRID: Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and American gymnast Simone Biles shared the top honors on Monday at the annual Laureus World Sport Awards ceremony in Madrid.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Double Olympic champion and world record holder Duplantis was voted Sportsman of the Year at the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the awards, while Biles was named Sportswoman of the Year.
Duplantis, 25, took the award ahead of tennis great Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen and French swimmer Leon Marchand.
He follows Usain Bolt as the second representative from track and field to win the award.
Biles won the award for the fourth time, equalling the record held by Serena Williams, after winning three gold medals and a silver last summer at the Paris Olympics.
'I won this award for the first time in 2017 and Laureus has been a part of my story since then,' said Biles.
'There might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too.'
Another gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the Comeback of the Year award after winning gold in the floor at Paris while Barcelona's Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, who had an exceptional first full season for club and country, winning Euro 2024 with Spain at just 17, won the Breakthrough of the Year award.
Real Madrid, who won their 15th Champions League and La Liga, took the team award.
Rafael Nadal, who retired from tennis last November at the age of 38, was given a Sports Icon award and surfer Kelly Slater a Lifetime Achievement award.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Imola Axed from 2026 F1 Calendar, Two Races in Spain
Formula One will have two races in Spain next season with Madrid making its debut in September and Italy's Imola dropping off the 24-round calendar, the governing FIA announced on Tuesday. Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix will again be the season-opener on March 8 with China's Shanghai circuit hosting round two a week later, as the sport enters a new engine era with Cadillac also arriving as an 11th team. Monaco will be the first European round on June 7 with Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya scheduled the following week. Madrid's new street circuit will debut as the last race in Europe on September 13, the weekend after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Imola was out of contract after this year's race and dropped off the list. The season will end in Abu Dhabi on December 6. "We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula One grid," said Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali in a statement. Swiss-based Sauber will become the Audi works team in 2026 while Ford are partnering with Red Bull. Calendar: March 8 - Australia, Melbourne March 15 - China, Shanghai March 29 - Japan, Suzuka April 12 - Bahrain, Sakhir April 19 - Saudi Arabia, Jeddah May 3 - United States, Miami May 24 - Canada, Montreal June 7 - Monaco June 14 - Spain, Barcelona June 28 - Austria, Spielberg July 5 - Britain, Silverstone July 19 - Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps July 26 - Hungary, Budapest August 23 - Netherlands, Zandvoort September 6 - Italy, Monza September 13 - Spain, Madrid September 27 - Azerbaijan, Baku October 11 - Singapore October 25 - United States, Austin November 1 - Mexico, Mexico City November 8 - Brazil, Sao Paulo November 21 - United States, Las Vegas November 29 - Qatar December 6 - Abu Dhabi
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Madrid to host grand prix as Formula One announces 2026 calendar
HONG KONG: Spain will host two Formula One grands prix in 2026, with the new race in Madrid joining Barcelona, after organizers on Tuesday announced the calendar for a season that could bring big changes on the grid. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Bangkok set to host Asian Boxing U19 & U22 Boxing Championships
DUBAI: Asian Boxing, the first continental confederation established under World Boxing, has said the Asian Boxing U19 & U22 Boxing Championships will take place from July 30 to Aug. 12 at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The continental event, organized in collaboration with World Boxing and the Thailand Boxing Association, will feature both male and female athletes in two age divisions: U-19 (born in 2007 or 2008) and U-22 (born between 2004 and 2006). The championship is looking to build on the success of Asian Boxing's inaugural continental event held in Amman, Jordan — the Asian Boxing U15 & U17 Championships in April 2025 — which featured more than 400 boxers from 18 countries. Both age group competitions will include the following weight categories: Men: 47–50 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, 85 kg, 90 kg and +90 kg. Women: 45–48 kg, 51 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg and +80 kg.
