Latest news with #LaureusSportforGood
CNN
22-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Simone Biles, Mondo Duplantis win big at 25th Laureus World Sports Awards
Paris Olympians and Paralympians were the big winners of the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, including superstars Simone Biles and Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis. The Laureus Awards, co-hosted this year by CNN Sports' Amanda Davies, honor sports' biggest athletes and those using sport for good. And this edition of the awards were bigger than ever as Laureus celebrated 25 years of athletic feats. Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, received her fourth Sportswoman of the Year Award after adding three golds and a silver medal to her resume at her third Olympics this past summer. The American tied tennis legend Serena Williams as the only athletes to receive the Sportswoman of the Year award four times. 'I won this Award for the first time in 2017 and Laureus has been a part of my story since then, and I share their belief that sport has the power to change the world,' Biles said of her record night. 'That might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too. Or it could be the incredible work Laureus Sport for Good has undertaken for the past 25 years, all over the world.' Swedish poler-vaulter Duplantis became only the second track-and-field athlete, after four-time winner Usain Bolt, to receive the Sportsman of the Year award. The 25-year-old broke his own world record to secure his second Olympic gold medal and become the first men's pole vaulter to win back-to-back golds since Bob Richards in 1956. 'The Laureus Awards are the ultimate awards that we athletes want to win. I know because this is the fourth time I have been nominated – and that proves it's harder to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal!' Duplantis joked. 'I'm following in the footsteps of giants like Novak (Djokovic), Usain, Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi. The list of past winners of this Award is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years.' Other highlights of the event in Madrid included Biles' friend and rival Rebeca Andrade winning the Comeback of the Year Award. The Brazilian considered quitting the sport after suffering her third ACL tear in four years. However, she came back and competed in her third Olympics in Paris – earning a gold, two silvers and a bronze – to become the most decorated Brazilian Olympian of all time. Her gold medal moment led to one of the most iconic photos of the Olympics, with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowing down to Andrade on the podium. 'Individual sports can be isolating, but Paris showed that camaraderie can exist between competitors, and I was so proud to compete alongside last year's winner of this Award, Simone Biles,' Andrade said after the win. 'Simone and I are the only two gymnasts to win a Laureus Award and I hope our stories can inspire anyone who has experienced injuries and setbacks to keep fighting through the many obstacles placed in front of them on the long road to recovery.' Later on, despite Real Madrid coming away winners of the Team of the Year award, it was rival Barcelona's teen phenom Lamine Yamal who received the Breakthrough of the Year Award. At only 16 years old, the Spaniard became the youngest player and goalscorer in European Championship history. He then rang in his birthday by becoming the youngest to play in a Euros final the day after turning 17. The Laureus Awards are not just about honoring the biggest athletes, but those who are using sport to make positive changes in society. This year's Sport for Good Award went to Kick4Life, an organization started in 2005 focused on using football to reach at-risk youth in Lesotho. All in all, it was a massive evening to celebrate sport with the world's biggest athletes and sport gamechangers present in Madrid. Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater
CNN
22-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Simone Biles, Mondo Duplantis win big at 25th Laureus World Sports Awards
Paris Olympians and Paralympians were the big winners of the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, including superstars Simone Biles and Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis. The Laureus Awards, co-hosted this year by CNN Sports' Amanda Davies, honor sports' biggest athletes and those using sport for good. And this edition of the awards were bigger than ever as Laureus celebrated 25 years of athletic feats. Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, received her fourth Sportswoman of the Year Award after adding three golds and a silver medal to her resume at her third Olympics this past summer. The American tied tennis legend Serena Williams as the only athletes to receive the Sportswoman of the Year award four times. 'I won this Award for the first time in 2017 and Laureus has been a part of my story since then, and I share their belief that sport has the power to change the world,' Biles said of her record night. 'That might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too. Or it could be the incredible work Laureus Sport for Good has undertaken for the past 25 years, all over the world.' Swedish poler-vaulter Duplantis became only the second track-and-field athlete, after four-time winner Usain Bolt, to receive the Sportsman of the Year award. The 25-year-old broke his own world record to secure his second Olympic gold medal and become the first men's pole vaulter to win back-to-back golds since Bob Richards in 1956. 'The Laureus Awards are the ultimate awards that we athletes want to win. I know because this is the fourth time I have been nominated – and that proves it's harder to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal!' Duplantis joked. 'I'm following in the footsteps of giants like Novak (Djokovic), Usain, Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi. The list of past winners of this Award is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years.' Other highlights of the event in Madrid included Biles' friend and rival Rebeca Andrade winning the Comeback of the Year Award. The Brazilian considered quitting the sport after suffering her third ACL tear in four years. However, she came back and competed in her third Olympics in Paris – earning a gold, two silvers and a bronze – to become the most decorated Brazilian Olympian of all time. Her gold medal moment led to one of the most iconic photos of the Olympics, with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowing down to Andrade on the podium. 'Individual sports can be isolating, but Paris showed that camaraderie can exist between competitors, and I was so proud to compete alongside last year's winner of this Award, Simone Biles,' Andrade said after the win. 'Simone and I are the only two gymnasts to win a Laureus Award and I hope our stories can inspire anyone who has experienced injuries and setbacks to keep fighting through the many obstacles placed in front of them on the long road to recovery.' Later on, despite Real Madrid coming away winners of the Team of the Year award, it was rival Barcelona's teen phenom Lamine Yamal who received the Breakthrough of the Year Award. At only 16 years old, the Spaniard became the youngest player and goalscorer in European Championship history. He then rang in his birthday by becoming the youngest to play in a Euros final the day after turning 17. The Laureus Awards are not just about honoring the biggest athletes, but those who are using sport to make positive changes in society. This year's Sport for Good Award went to Kick4Life, an organization started in 2005 focused on using football to reach at-risk youth in Lesotho. All in all, it was a massive evening to celebrate sport with the world's biggest athletes and sport gamechangers present in Madrid. Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
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
Daily Maverick
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Biles and Duplantis scoop major honours at 25th Laureus World Sports Awards
It was a year for Olympians to shine in the annual Laureus World Sports awards in Madrid, the 25th staging of the 'Oscars of Sport'. Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, who competes under the Swedish flag, claimed the Sportsman of the Year award to become the first male field athlete to scoop the top prize. Previously, Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt won the Sportsman of the Year award three times, but this was a first for field disciplines. It was also Duplantis' fourth nomination in the category. Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won the Sportswoman of the Year award in 2007 and 2009, but Duplantis became the first man from the highly technical discipline to win. Simone Biles In keeping with the theme of agility, power, grace and flexibility, US gymnast Simone Biles collected a fourth trophy as Sportswoman of the Year, equalling former tennis great Serena Williams' record. Biles made a triumphant return to the Olympics in Paris last year, winning three golds and a silver to take her Olympic tally to 11 medals. In addition to what is now her fourth Sportswoman of the Year title, Biles also won the women's Laureus Comeback of the Year in 2024 after dominating the 2023 World Championships. 'I won this Award for the first time in 2017 and Laureus has been a part of my story since then, and I share their belief that sport has the power to change the world,' Biles said. 'That might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too. Or it could be the incredible work Laureus Sport for Good has undertaken for the past 25 years, all over the world. 'I'd like to thank the legendary members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, who vote for the winners. It must be an almost impossible job, but their unique personal experiences of sport at the highest level gives them an understanding of what it takes to be the very best. 'Their generation has inspired us athletes standing here before you. That is why the Laureus Awards truly are the 'Athletes Awards' and I am proud to have added to my 'Laureus' collection.' Biles saw off the challenges of world tennis No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Olympic athletic gold medallists Faith Kipyegon, Sydney McLaughlin-Leverone and Sifan Hassan and Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmati. Mondo Duplantis Duplantis also faced strong challenges from tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, French Olympic star Léon Marchand and cycling's dominant force in Tadej Pogačar. It's fair to say that few eyebrows would have been raised if any of the names of the 10 nominees across the two categories had been pulled from the envelopes. 'I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid,' Duplantis said. 'The Laureus Awards are the ultimate awards that we athletes want to win. I know, because this is the fourth time I have been nominated – and that proves it's harder to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal! 'I'll never forget receiving this beautiful Laureus from the great Novak Djokovic – I'm following in the footsteps of giants like Novak, Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi. The list of past winners of this Award is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years. 'The Laureus Awards represent something more than sporting achievement. The fact that they are voted on by the 69 world-class athletes of the Laureus World Sports Academy elevates them to another level. These are athletes who know the dedication and commitment that lies behind sporting successes; they have set the mark that athletes like me strive for.' African triumph While there were no athletic winners from Africa, Kick4Life was honoured with the Laureus Sport for Good award in recognition of its role in changing the lives of young people in Lesotho. One of the understated, but important aspects of the Laureus movement is the support it gives to charities and organisations such as Kick4Life, which work to uplift vulnerable children in society. Since its foundation in 2005, Kick4Life has helped more than 250,000 children and young people in Lesotho through a network of high-impact community programmes focused on education and sustainable livelihoods for young people. Lesotho has the second-highest prevalence of HIV in the world (23.2%), drastically damaging families and communities while leaving more than 160,000 children orphaned. Through its football programmes, Kick4Life offers healthcare education and counselling, alongside voluntary testing for more than 25,000 young people. Its community work has empowered women to uphold their rights against gender-based violence, given young people entrepreneurial skills to combat youth unemployment and developed character and life skills through sport. It has also aided young Lesotho-based footballers in seeking prestigious football scholarships from across the world, through the Kick4Life academy. Philanthropy Laureus chairman Sean Fitzpatrick highlighted the philanthropic aspect of the awards. Laureus, which started with a modest outlook a quarter of a century ago, has evolved into a significant operation uplifting children through sport. While the annual awards are the centrepiece and the showpiece of the Laureus organogram, it's the work it does behind the scenes, by supporting sporting programmes across the globe, that is its major impact. 'We initially came together to celebrate excellence in sport, that's how it was sold to us,' Fitzpatrick recalled. 'Then Nelson Mandela turned up and that sort of changed… I suppose our perspective in terms of what we could do. 'On the Sunday after the awards, about 10 of us came together and we thought, 'well, that was amazing. But we need to do something else. We need to sort of put something together to celebrate what Mandela had said to us.' 'And that was the start of the Sport for Good Foundation. And a year later, we had our first project.' What did Mandela say? It was simple, really. As a guest at the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco in 2000, Madiba said: 'Sport has the power to change the world'. And Laureus has carried that message every day and in everything it does. 'We now support 300 programmes globally,' Fitzpatrick said. 'None are our projects – people apply for funding. And if they meet the criteria, we fund them. 'We're in 45 countries. We've raised close to a quarter of a billion euros and helped change the lives of about seven million kids just using sport, which is fantastic. 'Initially, there was no grand plan – nothing like that at all.' Real Madrid win Real Madrid were honoured with the Laureus World Team of the Year Award after a season in which they won La Liga for a record 36th time, delivered a 15th Uefa Champions League title, and defeated rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the Supercopa de España. The club continued to sweep aside all before them at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, winning both the Uefa Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup. Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade completed her inspirational return from career-threatening injuries at the Paris Games, and she is this year's recipient of the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Andrade considered quitting the sport in the wake of a series of soul-crushing setbacks – including three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries – and agonising rehabilitations. Tom Pidcock won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year after winning the Olympic mountain bike cross-country title. DM The full list of winners is: 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
Times of Oman
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Paulo Dybala announced Laures ambassador ahead of 25th World Sports Award anniversary
Madrid: Paulo Dybala, the Argentine World Cup winner, has today been announced as a Laureus Ambassador. The 31-year-old initiated his new role with a visit to a Laureus Sport for Good programme in Rome and will be in attendance at the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. Dybala won five Serie A titles with Juventus and the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. The Argentine star, who now plays for AS Roma, visited Calcio Insieme on Wednesday, a Rome-based project supported by the AS Roma Foundation, which uses football to help children with intellectual disabilities. More than 30 children and young adults were there to meet the new Laureus Ambassador. Paulo Dybala said, as quoted by the Laureus Sports press release, "It is a huge honour to join Laureus as an Ambassador. I have been inspired to learn about the incredible work they do, and to see 'sport for good' in action during my visit to Calcio Insieme was a great experience. The Laureus mission, to use sport as a vehicle for societal change, is inspiring and I am looking forward to attending a special 25th anniversary Laureus Awards in Madrid in the company of many sporting legends." Joining Dybala at this year's Awards show will be a host of champions, including Spanish sporting hero Rafael Nadal. Nadal brought his illustrious career to a close in 2024 after 22 Grand Slams (including 14 French Open titles), two Olympic gold medals, and 81 consecutive matches unbeaten on clay. Nadal has also completed a 'Laureus Slam' as the only athlete to win Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus Sport for Good Award. This year's event will be hosted by ski legend Lindsey Vonn, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011 and picked up the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award eight years later. Vonn - who hosted the virtual Awards in Seville in 2022 - launched a daring comeback in December at the age of 40 and secured her first World Cup podium finish in Idaho last month. Vonn, a Member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the 69 sporting legends whose votes determine the winners of the Awards, said: "It is a huge thrill to host the Awards once again. I enjoyed the experience virtually three years ago in Seville, but this time it will be even more special with everyone actually in attendance. I've been on both sides of the coin; thankfully, I know what it's like to win a Laureus award, and I also know what it's like to vote. Having this perspective makes me appreciate Laureus even more. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Madrid! Vamos!" Joining Nominees, Laureus Ambassadors, and Academy Members will be sports fans from the fashion, film, and entertainment industries. Those attending include: Athletics: Mondo Duplantis, Nawal El Moutawakel, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tegla Loroupe, Edwin Moses, Letsile Tebogo Basketball: Rudy Fernandez Cricket: Steve Waugh Cycling: Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy Football: Thiago Alcantara, Kosovare Asllani, Cafu, Fabio Capello, Fernando Carro, Iker Casillas, Paulo Dybala, Luis de la Fuente, Luis Figo, Ruud Gullit, Robin Le Normand, Rafael Louzan Gymnastics: Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Nadia Comaneci, Li Xiaopeng Hockey: Luciana Aymar Kayaking: Saul Craviotto Motor Racing: Zak Brown, Emerson Fittipaldi, Para archery: Matt Stutzman Para badminton: Qu Zi Mo Para fencing: Bebe Vio Para swimming: Daniel Dias, Teresa Perales, Jiang Yuyan Rowing: Steve Redgrave Rugby: Sean Fitzpatrick (Laureus Academy Chairman), Bryan Habana, Hugo Porta Skiing: Lara Gut-Behrami, Eileen Gu, Maria Hofl-Riesch, Lindsey Vonn Squash: Nicol David Surfing: Kelly Slater Swimming: Ariarne Titmus
