Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 Winners List: Duplantis, Nadal bag top honours; Rishabh Pant misses out
Record-breaking pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and America's legendary gymnast Simone Biles bagged the top honous at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday. While Duplantis earned the World Sportsman of the Year at the prestigious award gala, Biles was bagged the highest women's honours of the night.
The 25-year-old Duplantis, regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, won the award for the first time after being nominated in each of the past three years. Duplantis became only the second track-and-field athlete after four-time winner Usain Bolt to claim the prestigious award. Duplantis pipped the likes of Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis), France's Léon Marchand (Swimming), Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar (Cycling) and Netherlands' Max Verstappen (Motor Racing) with more votes for the award. '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…' he said.
Duplantis won his second World Indoor Championship gold medal in March and broke his own world record for a remarkable ninth time in 2024 en route to Olympic gold in Paris.
Biles, who returned to action after a break, clinched 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.
Tennis great 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.
Rishabh Pant, who was the only Indian to be nominated for the awards for his comeback from a 14-month layoff due to his road accident, missed out on the award eventually clinched by Rebeca Andrade. Andrade got the Comeback of the Year award 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.
Laureus Sports Awards 2025 Full Winners List
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 Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life
Laureus Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
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