Laureus Awards name Duplantis, Biles top athletes
Armand Duplantis and Simone Biles were the main stars of the Laureus World Sports Awards gala.
The Swedish athlete was named last year's Sportsman of the Year, and the American gymnast - Sportswoman of the Year.
"Thank you, Laureus. Thank you to the Academy. Many top athletes think I deserved this award, and that means a lot," Duplantis said at the ceremony.
Last year, Armand Duplantis won the gold medal in pole vault at the Paris Olympic Games, and also triumphed at the European Championships, the World Indoor Championships, and in the Diamond League. Other athletes nominated for the Laureus Award included Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, and cyclist Tadej Pogačar. American gymnast Simone Biles was named Sportswoman of the Year.
"I dreamed of moments like this, as an adopted child. I want to thank my parents for adopting me and my sister. They helped me turn my passion into my profession," Biles stated.
Lamine Yamal, the Spanish international and FC Barcelona footballer who excels for his club side and was one of the leaders of "La Furia Roja" at EURO 2024, was named the Breakthrough of the Year.
"It is an honour for me and my family to receive this award. I must mention the Spain national team and FC Barcelona, because without my teammates I wouldn't have been able to get where I am now," Yamal said.
Real Madrid was named Team of the Year, and former Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, who retired in November 2024, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his entire career. The nominees for the Laureus Awards are selected by the world sports press, and the 69 members of the Laureus Academy choose the winners.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
