PHOTO SPOTLIGHT: Simone Biles, Rafael Nadal and Sir Chris Hoy among sporting stars on the red carpet for the 25th Laureus Awards - with ANDY HOOPER capturing all the glitz and glamour from Madrid
Welcome to Photo Spotlight. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER took in the glitz and glamour behind-the-scenes on the red carpet of the Laureus Awards.
First held in 2000, the annual event celebrates the best sporting achievements of the previous 12 months alongside the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
The 25th edition took place in Madrid on Easter Monday and there were various sporting stars past and present who travelled to the Spanish capital.
Over the course of the evening there were 10 awards given out. Shortlists for seven categories (Sportswoman, Sportsman, Team, Breakthrough, Comeback, Action and Sport for Good) are created by votes from more than 1,000 sports media from over 70 countries. The shortlist for World Athlete of the Year with a Disability is provided by the International Paralympic Committee.
The Laureus World Sports Academy (a unique group of sporting legends) votes for the winners in each shortlisted category and The Academy also has the ability to grant discretionary awards, such as the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our man Andy Hooper was in position on the red carpet to take in event.
Mail Sport's ANDY HOOPER was on the red carpet for this year's Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Easter Monday
The fans were out in full attendance as proven here as Biles took a selfie on one's phone to make their dreams come true
He has had many battles with Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Rafael Nadal - and both were all smiles on the red carpet
Getting signatures proved too much for one spectator who was reduced to tears while waiting for sporting stars to walk past
Real Madrid's legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas signs the shirt of one fan while en route to the star-studded event
Casillas' former Real team-mate Luis Figo had all the cameras on him as he spoke to the media during the evnt
Dani Carvajal is one of the current Real Madrid players that donned the red carpet as they won the Team of the Year Award
Real playmaker Luka Modric poses with the trophy after the Spanish giants collected it for their feats achieved in 2023-24
Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis was named Sportsman of the Year after breaking his own world record to win 2024 Olympic gold
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
25 minutes ago
- Metro
Why Jude Bellingham missed England training ahead of Senegal friendly
Jude Bellingham was the only England player to miss training on Monday ahead of their international friendly against Senegal. The Three Lions maintained their 100 per cent start to their World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday with a 1-0 win away to Andorra. Their 'boring' and uninspiring performance left a lot to be desired however, with Thomas Tuchel looking for major improvement on Tuesday night when they take on Senegal. In his pre-match press conference, Tuchel hinted he would heavily rotate his side and said he had no new injury issues to worry about. Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins had pulled out of the squad before the Andorra game 'as a precaution due to a minor injury'. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. However, as the 25-man squad trained ahead of the friendly at the City Ground in Nottingham, there was one notable absentee in the form of Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham. The Football Association have since announced: '24 players are out training at St. George's Park this afternoon. 'Jude Bellingham is absent to attend a family funeral and will return to camp later today.' The 21-year-old started the win over Andorra but, like many of his teammates, struggled to make an impact and was replaced in the dying minutes by Morgan Gibbs-White. He will be available for selection against Senegal after which he will link back up with Real Madrid as they begin their Club World Cup campaign in the USA next week. It's been a big week for the Bellingham family with Jude's younger brother Jobe set to follow in his footsteps and sign for Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old played a key role in Sunderland's promotion campaign last season and was linked with a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. But he'll be playing in Germany next season after a record-breaking transfer fee was agreed between the Black Cats and Dortmund. Read the full story here. Dropping a few hints about his line-up against the African giants, Tuchel confirmed that Bukayo Saka will start having not been able to play the Arsenal star before because of injury and fitness issues. More Trending 'Very excited [to have Saka available],' the German said in his pre-match press conference. 'I could see he worked hard to come back from his injury. He had this minor discomfort in the last match which worried me a bit. 'He had just one training session with us. A full session and one half training session. We decided to not let him play, to not take any risks. 'But he trains with a smile, he had [on Sunday] an amazing training session with a lot of quality. He will start. Of course he's a key player for us.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal struggle for breakthrough in latest Benjamin Sesko talks with RB Leipzig MORE: Tottenham urged to sign Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target to replace Son Heung-min MORE: Viktor Gyokeres rejects £55m transfer after Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea talks
Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Who is Blu Chegini and when is he joining Love Island 2025?
SON of a sex shop owner Blu is ready behave as his name suggests he will when he enters the famous villa. He's already admitted he's up for anything on Love Island 2025 — here's everything you need to know. 3 Blu Chegini is a new Love Island star Credit: ITV 3 His mum owns a Spanish sex shop Credit: Instagram/@bluchegini 3 Blu is ready to go all the way on the ITV2 reality dating show Credit: Instagram/@bluchegini Who is Blu Chegini? Blu Chegini is a construction manager based in London who is set to feature on Love Island 2025. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2023 with a Bsc Hons in construction project management. Blu now works in the capital's swanky Fitzrovia, where he manages construction projects — a role demanding organisation, leadership and resilience. Outside of his professional life, Blu is passionate about fitness and boxing. He is an avid pugilist, regularly participating in matches. Earlier in 2025, he slao traveled to Thailand to complete a Muay Thai course. The cheeky singleton, whose mum runs a well-known adult store in Spain, reckons his upbringing has prepared him for whatever Love Island might throw his way. Speaking to ITV, he revealed: 'My mum owns a sex shop in Spain, which everyone knows and is quite popular. 'Growing up as a kid I was laughed at for it, but little did people know that all their parents were buying stuff from there.' Asked what his parents would think about him potentially going all the way on national TV, Blu said: 'I haven't really spoken to them about it… Love Island in biggest launch episode shake up yet as first show sees never-seen-before twist 'It's not something I probably would have gone and said, like, 'look, listen, what's going to happen?' 'Yes, it's something that we've been open with our whole lives, it doesn't mean I'm going in there like, 'I'm going to do that' — whatever happens, happens. 'They're going to be supportive no matter what.' Blu also revealed how he has high hopes for the famous villa's most infamous room. He said: 'I'm keen to see what the Hideaway's got in store. See how it compares — mum's shop and the Hideaway.' [My parents] going to be supportive no matter what Blu Chegini On what he's looking for in a partner on Love Island 2025, Blu didn't even mention looks. Instead he said: "Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. "Personality goes a long way." As of June 9, 2025, Blu has an Instagram account with almost 7,000 followers — a number that's sure to shoot up during his time on Love Island. He regularly shares snaps of his daily life, travels and boxing exploits. When is Blu Chegini joining Love Island 2025? Blu is a contestants on the Love Island 2025, which kicks off at 9pm on Monday, June 9, 2025. Rather than being one of the initial batch of Islanders who will enter the villa at the very start of the series, Blu is joining the cast as a bombshell.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Love Island star has very unexpected connection to boxing icon Anthony Joshua
EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Bradley is one of the singletons who is looking for love on the new series of Love Island, which kicks off tonight - and he's got some huge connections Tommy Bradley is ready to make his mark as he enters the villa tonight alongside 11 other hopefuls for the launch of the show's 12th series - and he's already packing some heavyweight connections. The 24-year-old fitness buff from London just so happens to have brushed shoulders with boxing royalty. Yep, none other than Anthony Joshua. While he hasn't met him just yet, Tommy's brother works closely with the boxer. But it's not just AJ-level abs Tommy's proud of – it's that signature slicked-back hair. 'It sounds weird,' he confessed, 'but I blow-dry it for 20–25 minutes, style it, hairspray it, and sleep in a woolly hat to keep it in place.' Yes, really. He even ruled out shaving it off for a date challenge. 'No chance. It's my best feature. I've had the same haircut since I was a kid!' So why sign up? 'All my mates are in relationships - I'm the last single one,' he said. 'Why not go away, meet new people, have a fantastic summer, and maybe come back with a girlfriend? No-brainer.' He packed eight pairs of swim shorts and hit the gym hard in prep, bumping up the weights and making sure he was villa-ready. But if you're wondering whether Tommy's more lover or fighter, the truth is... he's not quite either yet. 'I've never been in a proper serious relationship,' he admits. 'Just situationships that fizzled out after a few months. I've never even said 'I love you' - unless you count my mum and my nan.' And speaking of mum, she didn't hold back before his villa debut. 'She actually brought up the sex thing and said, 'If you do, I'll be watching,'' Tommy reveals. Awkward. As for whether he'll go there on-screen? 'I'm not saying I will… but if the moment is right, maybe. Who knows?' ITV's Love Island has a string of secret sex rules, which the saucy singletons must follow. The new series of the smash-hit dating show, which kicks off tonight, is sure to be one of the steamiest yet after bosses revealed that sex scenes would be aired i n the Hideaway for the first time this summer. The jaw-dropping move has divided viewers, with some saying they don't know want to see what pops up beneath the sheets under the Spanish sun. However, others, think the rule change is just what the new series needs as executive producer Mike Spencer said: "If sex happens, we'll show it. The Hideaway will be open 24 hours. We need to keep the show fresh and exciting." 'After 10 years, the stats speak for themselves. The show will continue to thrive. We the producers need to stay ahead of the curve. The whole 'twists and turns' thing is about making the show fresh. We're going to give it all we've got.' Well, mission accomplished. Host Maya Jama, back with her signature sass and slay, said: 'I feel like they forgot last year that you could come in the Hideaway at any time. We did tell them, but they kept forgetting!' Not anymore, Maya. Megan Moore, who goes by Meg, is a 25-year-old payroll specialist from Southampton, told us: 'It's not ideal to be having it on telly, but you don't know because you're in that bubble. If it comes naturally, then it happens. You can't ever never say never.' Meanwhile, Sophie Lee, a 29-year-old former fire breather, influencer and motivational speaker from Manchester, is taking a different route: 'I am celibate. I've practiced celibacy throughout my dating life. It'll take a really hot guy to change that! For me, intimacy is giving a piece of my soul. If I'm not in a confident place, it's my problem - not his." "I've gone over 8 months celibate now, I was two years celebate before, and I'm proud of that. I only want to have sex when I truly want to - not out of pressure.'
