Redemption, resilience, raw talent - How the world's greatest female athletes blazed a trail in 2024
Stars of the Paris Olympics light up the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year shortlist.
Paris 2024, with its ‘Games Wide Open’ motto, was the first Olympics in history to achieve gender parity – and four of our Nominees for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year wrote their names into sporting history during those unforgettable few weeks in the French capital. Simone Biles, Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set new standards in their chosen sports at the 33rd Olympiad, while footballer Aitana Bonmatí and tennis star Aryna Sabalenka achieved stunning results over the course of 2024 to earn their place on the coveted shortlist.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day – recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women – each of our six Nominees has their own tale of physical and mental challenges overcome to inspire future generations of women.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day – recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women – each of our six Nominees has their own tale of physical and mental challenges overcome to inspire future generations of women.
Simone Biles is no stranger to adversity – or to the Laureus Awards, having won the prestigious Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award three times before earning the Comeback of the Year Award last year.
The American gymnast took things to another level at the Paris Olympics – after the disappointment of her withdrawal from the Tokyo Games three years previously – to thrill sports fans around the world and wow watching celebrities including Tom Cruise and Lady Gaga.
She dusted down the Biles II, a Yurchenko double pike, en route to individual gold in the vault, and also topped the podium during the individual all-round, and the team competition with her USA colleagues. Biles, who now has a lifetime haul of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, wrapped up her self-named ‘Redemption Tour’ with a silver on the floor, to cement her position as the most decorated gymnast in history.
The American gymnast took things to another level at the Paris Olympics – after the disappointment of her withdrawal from the Tokyo Games three years previously – to thrill sports fans around the world and wow watching celebrities including Tom Cruise and Lady Gaga.
She dusted down the Biles II, a Yurchenko double pike, en route to individual gold in the vault, and also topped the podium during the individual all-round, and the team competition with her USA colleagues. Biles, who now has a lifetime haul of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, wrapped up her self-named ‘Redemption Tour’ with a silver on the floor, to cement her position as the most decorated gymnast in history.
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Paris provided the platform for many athletes to capture memorable moments and international headlines. In athletics, Sifan Hassan served up one of the most versatile performances ever seen by a female at an Olympic Games, winning bronze in the 5,000 metres and then the same colour of medal in the 10,000m four days later; then, within another 48 hours, she claimed the marathon gold medal in scintillating fashion.
The 31-year-old Dutch runner dug deep to out-sprint Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and cross the line just three seconds ahead of her rival. It was the narrowest winning margin in any women’s Olympic Marathon and it saw Hassan become the first athlete – male or female – to win medals in all three events since Emil Zatopek in Helsinki in 1952.
The 31-year-old Dutch runner dug deep to out-sprint Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and cross the line just three seconds ahead of her rival. It was the narrowest winning margin in any women’s Olympic Marathon and it saw Hassan become the first athlete – male or female – to win medals in all three events since Emil Zatopek in Helsinki in 1952.
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Faith Kipyegon also created history in the French capital. The renowned Kenyan won gold in the 1500m to become the only three-time Olympic champion over that distance.
She smashed her own Olympic record in the process and reinforced her elite status by adding the 5000m silver. The current 1,500m world record holder wrapped up her season with the successful defence of her title at the 2024 Diamond League Finals in Brussels.
She smashed her own Olympic record in the process and reinforced her elite status by adding the 5000m silver. The current 1,500m world record holder wrapped up her season with the successful defence of her title at the 2024 Diamond League Finals in Brussels.
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The second American shortlisted for the Sportswoman Award, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is an example of a woman and an athlete who continuously pushes herself beyond pre-established limits.
Her gold-winning time of 50.37 seconds in the 400m hurdles was her sixth world record in the event and the World Athletics rankings system nominated that performance as the greatest ever by a woman. In addition to her individual success, she was part of the team which delivered gold in the 4 x 400m relay.
Her gold-winning time of 50.37 seconds in the 400m hurdles was her sixth world record in the event and the World Athletics rankings system nominated that performance as the greatest ever by a woman. In addition to her individual success, she was part of the team which delivered gold in the 4 x 400m relay.
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If International Women’s Day celebrates those who can inspire, it is fitting that among our Nominees is Aitana Bonmatí. The Spanish footballer may be part of a team, but she elevates those around her with big-game performances and pivotal goals.
She opened the scoring in FC Barcelona’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final victory over Lyon and was named MVP of the tournament, with six goals and six assists. Last year’s Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award winner also helped deliver a fifth consecutive league title as well as the Copa de la Reina, and won her second straight Ballon d’Or Feminin in October.
She opened the scoring in FC Barcelona’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final victory over Lyon and was named MVP of the tournament, with six goals and six assists. Last year’s Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award winner also helped deliver a fifth consecutive league title as well as the Copa de la Reina, and won her second straight Ballon d’Or Feminin in October.
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Sweeping all-comers aside, Aryna Sabalenka confirmed her position as the world’s top-ranked female tennis player by becoming the first woman to successfully defend the Australian Open title in over a decade. She did so without dropping a single set. Later in the year she triumphed in the US Open as well, and throughout 2024 she bolstered her career tally to 23 titles – 17 in singles and six in doubles, and in December was named WTA Player of the Year.
Resilience, redemption and raw talent – our Nominees for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award thrilled and inspired during an incredible year.
Resilience, redemption and raw talent – our Nominees for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award thrilled and inspired during an incredible year.
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