Athletes Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis shine at the 25th Anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards
In the bustling city of Madrid, the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards went off with a bang, celebrating the crème de la crème of athleticism and sportsmanship. This year's host, CNN Sports' Amanda Davies, welcomed an impressive lineup of sports giants, as well as those who use their talents to make a positive impact on society.
Superstars like Simone Biles and Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis took home the limelight, with Biles securing her fourth Sportswoman of the Year Award and tying tennis legend Serena Williams in the number of times won. Duplantis, on the other hand, became only the second track-and-field athlete to receive the Sportsman of the Year award after four-time winner Usain Bolt.
Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, added three golds and a silver medal to her impressive resume at the summer Olympics. The American champion praised Laureus, stating, "I won this Award for the first time in 2017 and Laureus has been a part of my story since then... Sport has the power to change the world."
Swedish pole-vaulter Duplantis followed in the footsteps of legends like Novak Djokovic, Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, and Lionel Messi, as the fourth time he was nominated proved it's harder to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal!
The event was sprinkled with heartwarming comeback stories, such as Rebeca Andrade who, after suffering multiple ACL tears and considering quitting gymnastics, went on to become the most decorated Brazilian Olympian of all time. Andrade's inspiring story created one of the Olympics' most iconic photos, with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowing down to her on the podium.
Teen phenom Lamine Yamal, despite Real Madrid claiming the Team of the Year award, received the Breakthrough of the Year Award. At just 16, the young soccer star became the youngest player and goalscorer in European Championship history and played in the Euros final the day after turning 17.
The Laureus Awards acknowledged not only top athletes but also organizations using sports for good. Kick4Life, an organization founded in 2005 to reach at-risk youth in Lesotho through football, received the Sport for Good Award.
In conclusion, the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid was a night to remember, bringing together the world's biggest athletes and sport gamechangers in the celebration of global sports excellence and kindness.
Here's the complete list of winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards:
- Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis
- Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles
- Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid
- Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
- Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade
- Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan
- Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock
- Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life
- Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater
[1] http://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2021/stories/_/id/32670589/simone-biles-paris-olympics-five-things-know-gymnastics-star[2] https://www.insidehook.com/sports/armand-duplantis-hercules-2021/[3] https://www.theguardian.com/sport/usain-bolt-interview-world-record-4x100m
- Rebecca Andrade, the Olympic gymnast who suffered multiple ACL tears and considered quitting, became the most decorated Brazilian Olympian of all time, showcasing the power of sports to inspire comebacks.
- Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, added to her impressive resume by securing her fourth Sportswoman of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards, emphasizing the importance of sport in changing the world.
- Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, following in the footsteps of sports legends like Usain Bolt and Novak Djokovic, became only the second track-and-field athlete to receive the Sportsman of the Year award at the Laureus World Sports Awards, demonstrating that winning a Laureus Award is no easier than winning an Olympic gold medal.
