Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast, was awarded Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday.
Meanwhile, Swedish pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis took home the honor of Sportsman of the Year.
Biles, who secured gold medals in the team, all-around, and vault competitions, along with a silver in the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Games, completed a triumphant comeback three years after her withdrawal from events at the Tokyo Olympics. This achievement earned her the Laureus Award for the fourth time.
That equaled the record held by tennis great and U.S. compatriot Serena Williams.
”I’m so happy to be here in Madrid and to receive my fourth Laureus Award,” Biles said.
”I won this Award for the first time in 2017, and Laureus has been a part of my story since then. There might be a little girl watching someone like me on television and deciding she can do it, too.”
Last year’s winner, Novak Djokovic, handed Duplantis his first Laureus award after he was nominated in each of the last three years, becoming only the second track-and-field athlete to win it after Usain Bolt.
Considered one of the greatest pole vaulters in history, Duplantis secured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris, where he broke his world record for the ninth time.
He then shattered that record once more at the Silesia Diamond League meeting the following month.
”I am incredibly honored to have won my first Laureus; this is the ultimate award 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.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the Comeback of the Year award after completing her inspirational return from career-threatening injuries at the Paris Games to win the gold medal in the floor competition.
Teenage footballing sensation Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win the European Championship last year, won the Breakthrough of the Year, the sixth footballer to win that award.
The nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are chosen by international media, while the winners are decided by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
These awards have been presented annually since 2000.
List of winners:
World Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles
World Sportsman of the Year: Mondo Duplantis
World Team of the Year: Real Madrid
World Breakthrough of the Year: Lamine Yamal
World Comeback of the Year: Rebeca Andrade
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Jiang Yuyan
World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Tom Pidcock
Laureus Sport for Good: Kick4Life
Laureus Sporting Icon: Rafael Nadal
Laureus Lifetime Achievement: Kelly Slater
