22-04-2025
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
