Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis Shine Bright at 25th Laureus World Sports Awards

The stars were out in full force in Madrid as the 25th anniversary of the Laureus World Sports Awards celebrated some of the world’s most remarkable athletes—and the inspiring power of sport. Leading the charge were U.S. gymnastics icon Simone Biles and Swedish pole vault sensation Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, both of whom walked away with top honors on a night full of unforgettable moments.

Simone Biles cemented her legacy once again, taking home her fourth Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award—matching Serena Williams’ all-time record. This latest honor follows a triumphant return to the Olympic stage last summer, where Biles added three golds and a silver to her growing collection.

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“I won this Award for the first time in 2017,” Biles said during her acceptance speech. “Laureus has been part of my journey ever since. I truly believe sport can change the world—whether it’s inspiring a little girl watching from home, or supporting communities through programs like Laureus Sport for Good.”

On the men’s side, Armand Duplantis etched his name alongside legends like Usain Bolt, becoming only the second track-and-field athlete to win the Sportsman of the Year Award. The 25-year-old pole vault prodigy captured his second Olympic gold in Paris after breaking his own world record, becoming the first male pole vaulter to win back-to-back Olympic titles since Bob Richards in 1956.

“It’s harder to win a Laureus than Olympic gold—this was my fourth nomination!” Duplantis joked. “To be in the same sentence as Novak, Nadal, Messi, and Bolt—these are the icons we look up to.”

One of the most emotional moments of the night came as Rebeca Andrade received the Comeback of the Year Award. The Brazilian gymnast nearly quit the sport after suffering three ACL tears in four years. But in Paris, she returned stronger than ever—snagging a gold, two silvers, and a bronze, becoming Brazil’s most decorated Olympian.

A touching photo from the Games showed Biles and teammate Jordan Chiles bowing down to Andrade on the podium—a viral moment celebrating mutual respect and resilience.

“This award isn’t just about me—it’s about every athlete who’s battled injury and thought about giving up,” Andrade said. “I’m honored to stand with Simone as one of only two gymnasts to win a Laureus Award.”

The Breakthrough of the Year Award went to Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teen sensation who made headlines across Europe. The 16-year-old became the youngest player and goalscorer in European Championship history, then made more history just one day after his 17th birthday—becoming the youngest to appear in a Euros final.

Beyond the podiums and medals, the Laureus Awards spotlight those using sport to create lasting impact. This year’s Sport for Good Award went to Kick4Life, a nonprofit that’s been using football to uplift at-risk youth in Lesotho since 2005.

Other honorees included Jiang Yuyan (Sportsperson with a Disability), Tom Pidcock (Action Sportsperson), tennis legend Rafael Nadal (Sporting Icon), and surfing legend Kelly Slater (Lifetime Achievement).