Silver and Gold at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid
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The 25th anniversary of the ‘Athletes’ Awards’ saw current champions and legends of the past come together in Madrid to recognise sporting excellence and celebrate the Laureus mission – laid down by founding patron Nelson Mandela – to use the power of sport to change the world.
The annual greatest show in sports celebrated its 25th anniversary in traditional fashion – with silver.
The best athletes in the world gathered in Madrid with their eyes on the most coveted prize in sports: The Laureus. It’s 30cm tall and made of solid silver. The figure represents the striving human form – something each of our winners could relate to.For the silver anniversary of the Laureus World Sports Awards, we celebrated a golden generation.
From the podium of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, to the stage of the Palacio de Cibeles, in the heart of Madrid. There stood Mondo Duplantis, the pole vault champion and world-record holder, now with the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to go with his gold medals; Simone Biles, who held aloft her fourth Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award after yet more Olympic glory. Her great rival in women’s gymnastics, Rebeca Andrade, was honoured for the Comeback of the Year after winning on the floor in Paris, despite knee injuries that had led her to consider leaving her sport. Jiang Yuyan is the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability after leaving France with seven gold medals from the pool, a performance for the ages. Tom Pidcock, the mountain biker who rode to a second Olympic title, completed the graduating class from the Paris Games.
By the end of a gala evening broadcast all over the world, generating millions of views across social channels, these Olympians stood side by side with Laureus winners from football, surfing and tennis. Real Madrid received the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in their home city after a year in which they won five trophies – including a 15th Champions League title. Lamine Yamal won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award to go with the hearts and minds of the football world he earned with a performance at Euro 2024 that brought Spain another title and the promise of a generational talent.
An emotional Kelly Slater received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for the greatest career in the history of surfing. The curtain was brought down with the Palacio de Cibeles on its feet for a giant of sport: Rafael Nadal retired in 2024 and in Madrid became a Laureus Sporting Icon – one last trophy to bite on for the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
The best athletes in the world gathered in Madrid with their eyes on the most coveted prize in sports: The Laureus. It’s 30cm tall and made of solid silver. The figure represents the striving human form – something each of our winners could relate to.For the silver anniversary of the Laureus World Sports Awards, we celebrated a golden generation.
From the podium of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, to the stage of the Palacio de Cibeles, in the heart of Madrid. There stood Mondo Duplantis, the pole vault champion and world-record holder, now with the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to go with his gold medals; Simone Biles, who held aloft her fourth Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award after yet more Olympic glory. Her great rival in women’s gymnastics, Rebeca Andrade, was honoured for the Comeback of the Year after winning on the floor in Paris, despite knee injuries that had led her to consider leaving her sport. Jiang Yuyan is the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability after leaving France with seven gold medals from the pool, a performance for the ages. Tom Pidcock, the mountain biker who rode to a second Olympic title, completed the graduating class from the Paris Games.
By the end of a gala evening broadcast all over the world, generating millions of views across social channels, these Olympians stood side by side with Laureus winners from football, surfing and tennis. Real Madrid received the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in their home city after a year in which they won five trophies – including a 15th Champions League title. Lamine Yamal won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award to go with the hearts and minds of the football world he earned with a performance at Euro 2024 that brought Spain another title and the promise of a generational talent.
An emotional Kelly Slater received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for the greatest career in the history of surfing. The curtain was brought down with the Palacio de Cibeles on its feet for a giant of sport: Rafael Nadal retired in 2024 and in Madrid became a Laureus Sporting Icon – one last trophy to bite on for the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
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25 years after the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards were held in Monaco in 2000, this special anniversary edition of the greatest show in sports was also a celebration of the growth of Laureus as a unique sporting movement – encompassing the world-famous Awards and the work of Laureus Sport for Good in over 40 countries. One of more than 300 programmes supported by Laureus was awarded the Laureus Sport for Good Award – Kick4Life, a football project in Lesotho shared the stage with the biggest names in global sport and brought the conversation back to the words of Nelson Mandela a quarter of a century ago: Sport has the power to change the world.
It was a night to reflect back, but also to look to the future. We welcomed a new Laureus Ambassador, 21-year-old Eileen Gu, who presented the Sport for Good Award to Kick4Life, together with the chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Sean Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick was on stage in Monaco back in 2000 and took a moment this year to acknowledge Johann Rupert, the founder of Laureus. “On behalf of the Academy, 25 years on, this would not have been possible without you – thank you so much for everything you’ve done.”
It was a night to reflect back, but also to look to the future. We welcomed a new Laureus Ambassador, 21-year-old Eileen Gu, who presented the Sport for Good Award to Kick4Life, together with the chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Sean Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick was on stage in Monaco back in 2000 and took a moment this year to acknowledge Johann Rupert, the founder of Laureus. “On behalf of the Academy, 25 years on, this would not have been possible without you – thank you so much for everything you’ve done.”
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As clips and images were shared on social media by the biggest names in sport and their fans, the focus turned to the destination of ‘The Laureus’: the statuette awarded to the winner in each category and the prize the greatest athletes in the world value above all other Awards – voted on by the 69 sporting legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy. One of them – Lindsey Vonn, one of the greatest skiers of all time – presented the Awards in front of an audience of champions.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games were at the heart of the sporting year in 2024 – and this year’s list of Laureus winners includes several athletes who added a Laureus to their collection of gold. Duplantis became the second track-and-field athlete to win this Award, after four-time winner Usain Bolt. Still just 25 years old, Duplantis broke his own world record for a remarkable ninth time in 2024 on the way to gold in Paris, before shattering it again at the Silesia Diamond League meeting the following month. Duplantis received his Award from last year’s winner, Novak Djokovic.
Asked by Djokovic if he believes he can add to his 11 world records, he added: “I think there’s more in the tank.”
The Olympic and Paralympic Games were at the heart of the sporting year in 2024 – and this year’s list of Laureus winners includes several athletes who added a Laureus to their collection of gold. Duplantis became the second track-and-field athlete to win this Award, after four-time winner Usain Bolt. Still just 25 years old, Duplantis broke his own world record for a remarkable ninth time in 2024 on the way to gold in Paris, before shattering it again at the Silesia Diamond League meeting the following month. Duplantis received his Award from last year’s winner, Novak Djokovic.
Asked by Djokovic if he believes he can add to his 11 world records, he added: “I think there’s more in the tank.”
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In the end, it was a night dominated by significant numbers. 25 years of Laureus. 47 Nominees. Ten winners. 17, the age of the youngest winner; 53, the age of the oldest.
39-year-old Real Madrid legend Luka Modrić accepted the Laureus World Team of the Year Award – in the company of teammate Dani Carvajal - after a season in which they won La Liga for a record 36th time, delivered a 15th UEFA Champions League/European Cup 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, an achievement which saw Carlo Ancelotti become Madrid’s most decorated manager.
39-year-old Real Madrid legend Luka Modrić accepted the Laureus World Team of the Year Award – in the company of teammate Dani Carvajal - after a season in which they won La Liga for a record 36th time, delivered a 15th UEFA Champions League/European Cup 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, an achievement which saw Carlo Ancelotti become Madrid’s most decorated manager.
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Kelly Slater is the greatest surfer of all time, an 11-time world champion and now a five-time Laureus winner after receiving the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. In an emotional speech, he thanked the Academy and also admitted to goosebumps at hearing a famous voice narrate his tribute video. He added: “It was amazing to have my all-time favourite actor Bill Murray do the voiceover! He’s been around the surf world for 40 years, so he knows what he is talking about.”
Paralympic swimming superstar Jiang Yuyan collected the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award and captivated her audience of sporting legends with a powerful speech in English.
“It was swimming that truly shaped me,” said Yuyan, the most decorated athlete at the 2024 Paralympic Games, winning seven para swimming golds from seven events in the pool and setting two individual world records. “In the water, I could move freely. So, to anyone who feels held back by your disability – don’t let anyone, not even yourself, put limits on what you can do. Chase your dreams because we are capable of so much more than we imagine."
Paralympic swimming superstar Jiang Yuyan collected the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award and captivated her audience of sporting legends with a powerful speech in English.
“It was swimming that truly shaped me,” said Yuyan, the most decorated athlete at the 2024 Paralympic Games, winning seven para swimming golds from seven events in the pool and setting two individual world records. “In the water, I could move freely. So, to anyone who feels held back by your disability – don’t let anyone, not even yourself, put limits on what you can do. Chase your dreams because we are capable of so much more than we imagine."
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Simone Biles also shone in Paris. Her breathtaking displays delivered three golds and a silver and now earn her the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award for the fourth time, equalling the record held by tennis great and compatriot Serena Williams – they both also have one Comeback of the Year Award. Like Yuyan, she also used her platform to send out a message of empowerment. “I’ve been dreaming of moments like this since I was a foster kid, so I have to say thank you to my parents for adopting me and my sister. To any foster kids – or kids in general – out there… go get ‘em, you got it. Never give up.”
In Paris, mountain biker Tom Pidcock never gave up. His hopes of defending the title he won in Tokyo appeared all but over after suffering a puncture, but Pidcock staged a stirring fightback to reel in home favourite Victor Koretsky before pulling off a daring late overtake to win the cross-country title against the odds. Laureus Academy Member Chris Hoy took to the stage to receive the Award as Pidcock accepted his honour via video.
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’s long road back to the top was complete when she won gold in the floor competition – a moment memorialised forever by the image of her long-time rival Biles bowing to her as she stood at the top of the podium. The Brazilian football legend and Laureus World Sports Academy member Cafu presented the Award to Andrade and said: “At this moment, 220 million Brazilians are very proud of you, including me! You represent the smile and the joy of the Brazilian people.”
In Paris, mountain biker Tom Pidcock never gave up. His hopes of defending the title he won in Tokyo appeared all but over after suffering a puncture, but Pidcock staged a stirring fightback to reel in home favourite Victor Koretsky before pulling off a daring late overtake to win the cross-country title against the odds. Laureus Academy Member Chris Hoy took to the stage to receive the Award as Pidcock accepted his honour via video.
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’s long road back to the top was complete when she won gold in the floor competition – a moment memorialised forever by the image of her long-time rival Biles bowing to her as she stood at the top of the podium. The Brazilian football legend and Laureus World Sports Academy member Cafu presented the Award to Andrade and said: “At this moment, 220 million Brazilians are very proud of you, including me! You represent the smile and the joy of the Brazilian people.”
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For 25 years, the Laureus World Sports Awards have seen the greatest athletes in the world share the stage with Laureus Sport for Good programmes that fulfil the mission defined by the founding patron of Laureus at the first Awards, Nelson Mandela: to use the power of sport to change the world.
Kick4Life is one of over 300 Laureus Sport for Good projects all over the world and they were presented with this year’s Laureus Sport for Good Award. Kick4Life uses football to reach at-risk children in Lesotho, promoting health education, life-skills development, gender rights and employability.
Accepting the Award, Kick4Life’s Motlatsi Nkhahle said: “Congratulations to the other five incredible organisations who were nominated and the hundreds of organisations all over the world supported by Laureus. The Laureus family connects us to this wider global community of sport to which all of us here belong.”
Kick4Life is one of over 300 Laureus Sport for Good projects all over the world and they were presented with this year’s Laureus Sport for Good Award. Kick4Life uses football to reach at-risk children in Lesotho, promoting health education, life-skills development, gender rights and employability.
Accepting the Award, Kick4Life’s Motlatsi Nkhahle said: “Congratulations to the other five incredible organisations who were nominated and the hundreds of organisations all over the world supported by Laureus. The Laureus family connects us to this wider global community of sport to which all of us here belong.”
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The show closed with an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal, who received the Laureus Sporting Icon Award after a year in which he announced the end of one of the greatest careers in the history of professional tennis. In doing so, he added another Award to his ‘Laureus Slam’ – he is the only athlete to have won the Sportsman of the Year Award, the Comeback of the Year, the Breakthrough of the Year and the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
He took to the stage after a moving video tribute showing some of his greatest moments and most fierce challenges, voiced by Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman. “I didn't prepare for this amazing moment talking in front of all of you, but a lot of you have been sports people who have inspired me since I was a kid”, he said.
As Nadal – and his friend Carlos Alcaraz – posed for the cameras with event partners José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid, the greatest tennis player in Spanish history gave the final word to the host city. “Finally, I want to thank Madrid, which has become the world capital of sport.”
A quarter of a century after the Laureus movement began in Monaco, Madrid saw it reach new heights. The Athletes’ Awards brought together the world’s greatest sportsmen and women in front of a global audience of millions to celebrate excellence and share the idea that, beyond the arena, sport’s power to change the world has never been stronger.
He took to the stage after a moving video tribute showing some of his greatest moments and most fierce challenges, voiced by Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman. “I didn't prepare for this amazing moment talking in front of all of you, but a lot of you have been sports people who have inspired me since I was a kid”, he said.
As Nadal – and his friend Carlos Alcaraz – posed for the cameras with event partners José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid, the greatest tennis player in Spanish history gave the final word to the host city. “Finally, I want to thank Madrid, which has become the world capital of sport.”
A quarter of a century after the Laureus movement began in Monaco, Madrid saw it reach new heights. The Athletes’ Awards brought together the world’s greatest sportsmen and women in front of a global audience of millions to celebrate excellence and share the idea that, beyond the arena, sport’s power to change the world has never been stronger.
