Biles, Duplantis win Laureus awards
The world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, was named the Sportswoman of the Year, while Swedish pole-vaulter, Mondo Duplantis, captured the men’s honour at the Laureus awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday.
Biles, who won gold medals in the team, all-around and vault competitions, as well as a silver on the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Games to complete a triumphant comeback three years after withdrawing from events at the Tokyo Olympics, won the Laureus award for the fourth time.
That equalled the record held by tennis great and U.S. compatriot Serena Williams.
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.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time, Duplantis won a second straight Olympic gold medal in Paris, breaking his own world record for the ninth time, before shattering it once again in the Silesia Diamond League meeting the following month.
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 soccer 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 Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners
are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since 2000.
