The Laureus World Sports Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of Sport,” represent the pinnacle of recognition for athletic achievement worldwide in the world of sports news.
Since their inception in 1999, these awards have celebrated the triumphs of individuals and teams who push the boundaries of human performance, resilience, and inspiration.
Among the most illustrious nominees and winners are Olympic champions—athletes who have not only conquered the grandest stage of sport but have also left an indelible mark on their disciplines.
As of March 4, 2025, the latest nominations for the 2025 Laureus Awards have once again spotlighted Olympic heroes from the Paris 2024 Games and beyond, underscoring their enduring influence.
This article explores the significance of Olympic champions in the Laureus Awards, profiles standout nominees, and examines how these honors amplify their legacies.
The Laureus Awards: A Legacy of Sporting Greatness
Founded by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation with backing from Daimler and Richemont, the Laureus Awards were inspired by a vision articulated by Nelson Mandela at the inaugural ceremony in 2000: “Sport has the power to change the world.”
This ethos drives the awards, which honor not just victories but the broader impact of sport—its ability to unite, inspire, and uplift.
The process is rigorous: over 1,300 members of the Laureus Global Media Panel nominate candidates across categories like Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, and Comeback of the Year.
The final decision rests with the 69-member Laureus World Sports Academy, a jury of sporting legends including Olympic icons like Nadia Comaneci and Michael Johnson.
Olympic champions have long been central to the Laureus narrative.
The Olympic Games, held every four years, are the ultimate proving ground for athletic prowess, and their medalists often dominate Laureus shortlists.
These athletes embody the qualities the awards celebrate: excellence, determination, and the capacity to transcend sport itself.
From Roger Federer’s record six wins to Simone Biles’ multiple accolades, Olympic stars have consistently raised the bar, making their nominations a testament to both their achievements and their global resonance.
Paris 2024 Olympic Champions in the 2025 Laureus Spotlight
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, held last summer, delivered a wealth of unforgettable performances, many of which have earned athletes a place among the 2025 Laureus nominees.
Announced in early March 2025, this year’s shortlist includes a remarkable contingent of Olympic gold medalists, reflecting the Games’ high caliber.
Let’s delve into some of these standout champions and their journeys to Laureus recognition.
Simone Biles (USA) – Gymnastics: World Sportswoman of the Year Nominee
Simone Biles, already a Laureus legend with four previous wins, including Comeback of the Year in 2024, is back in contention for World Sportswoman of the Year.
Her Paris 2024 performance was nothing short of extraordinary: three gold medals (team, all-around, and vault) and a silver (floor exercise) at age 27, further cementing her status as gymnastics’ greatest-ever exponent.
After stepping away from competition post-Tokyo 2020 to prioritize mental health—a move that sparked global conversations—Biles returned with unmatched dominance.
Her nomination reflects not just her medal haul but her role as a trailblazer who reshapes how we view resilience in sport.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – Athletics: World Sportswoman of the Year Nominee
Another American dynamo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, joins Biles on the Sportswoman shortlist.
In Paris, she shattered her own world record in the 400m hurdles, clocking an astonishing 50.37 seconds to defend her Olympic title, and anchored the U.S. 4x400m relay team to gold.
At 25, McLaughlin-Levrone has redefined her event, blending speed, technique, and power in a way that’s drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt’s sprinting dominance.
Her third Laureus nomination—she won Breakthrough of the Year in 2022—highlights her ascent to the pinnacle of track and field.
Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) – Athletics: World Sportsman of the Year Nominee
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the pole vaulting prodigy, is no stranger to Laureus acclaim, having been nominated multiple times.
In Paris 2024, he retained his Olympic title with a leap of 6.25 meters, breaking his own world record for the tenth time.
The 25-year-old Swede’s blend of technical mastery and theatrical flair—he celebrated with a crowd-pleasing salto—makes him a standout.
Nominated for Sportsman of the Year alongside titans like Max Verstappen and Novak Djokovic, Duplantis represents the Olympic spirit of pushing limits, a quality the Laureus Academy consistently rewards.
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – Athletics: World Sportswoman of the Year Nominee
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon made history in Paris as the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic 1500m titles, adding a silver in the 5000m for good measure.
At 31, her longevity and versatility—she’s also a six-time world champion—set her apart. Kipyegon’s nomination alongside Biles and McLaughlin-Levrone underscores the depth of women’s athletics talent from Paris 2024.
Her story of balancing motherhood with elite competition resonates deeply, aligning with Laureus’ mission to honor inspiration beyond the scoreboard.
Julien Alfred (St. Lucia) – Athletics: Breakthrough of the Year Nominee
Julien Alfred burst onto the global stage in Paris, winning the 100m to claim St. Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold. The 23-year-old’s blistering 10.72-second run outshone a stacked field, and she added a silver in the 200m.
Her nomination for Breakthrough of the Year reflects her meteoric rise from a small Caribbean nation to sprinting stardom, embodying the underdog spirit that often captivates Laureus voters.
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – Athletics: Breakthrough of the Year Nominee
On the men’s side, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo secured his nation’s first Olympic gold in the 200m, running 19.46 seconds to upset a favored American contingent.
At 21, Tebogo’s poise and speed signal a bright future, and his Breakthrough nomination pits him against Alfred in a category that celebrates emerging talent.
His victory in Paris was a moment of national pride, amplifying its significance on the Laureus stage.
Historical Context: Olympic Icons in Laureus History
The 2025 nominations build on a rich tradition of Olympic champions gracing the Laureus Awards. Roger Federer, with five Sportsman of the Year titles (2005-2008, 2018) and a Comeback win (2006), leveraged his Olympic doubles gold from Beijing 2008 into a broader legacy of excellence.
Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint king, claimed four Sportsman awards (2009, 2010, 2013, 2017) after rewriting the record books in Beijing, London, and Rio.
His 100m and 200m world records from 2009 remain unbroken, a testament to his enduring impact.
Simone Biles’ earlier wins—Sportswoman of the Year in 2017 and 2019, Comeback in 2024—mirror the resilience of past Olympic laureates like Serena Williams, who holds four Sportswoman titles (2003, 2010, 2016, 2018) and a Comeback win (2007).
Williams’ Olympic golds (four in doubles, one in singles) complemented her tennis dominance, much like Biles’ gymnastic prowess.
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian with 23 golds, received the Exceptional Achievement Award in 2013, recognizing his unparalleled swimming career.
These historical winners illustrate a pattern: Olympic champions often use their Games success as a springboard to Laureus glory, their feats magnified by the awards’ global platform.
The 2025 nominees from Paris 2024 are poised to join this elite lineage, their stories adding fresh chapters to the Laureus legacy.
The Nomination Process: A Blend of Media and Mastery
The path to a Laureus nomination is a collaborative effort between media and sporting royalty.
The Global Media Panel, comprising 1,300 journalists from over 70 countries, submits initial nominations, ensuring a diverse, informed perspective.
For categories like Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, the International Paralympic Committee weighs in, reflecting the awards’ inclusivity.
The Academy then deliberates, their votes shaped by firsthand experience as former champions.
For Olympic athletes, this process often favors those with standout performances—world records, historic firsts, or redemptive comebacks—that capture headlines and hearts.
Biles’ mental health advocacy, Duplantis’ record-breaking consistency, and Alfred’s nation-defining win exemplify the criteria: excellence paired with narrative heft.
The Academy’s final say, set for the April 21, 2025, ceremony in Madrid, will determine which Olympic tales rise above the rest.
Impact Beyond the Podium
A Laureus nomination or win does more than polish an athlete’s trophy case—it amplifies their influence.
For Olympic champions, already icons in their nations, the awards offer a global stage to inspire.
Biles’ focus on mental health has destigmatized vulnerability in sport, while Kipyegon’s success as a mother-athlete challenges stereotypes.
Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone, with their record-breaking flair, motivate the next generation to dream big.
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation ties these honors to a higher purpose.
Proceeds from the awards fund programs supporting over 500,000 young people worldwide, from refugee initiatives to racial equity projects.
Olympic nominees like the 2017 Refugee Olympic Team, honored with the Sporting Inspiration Award, highlight this mission. In 2025, nominees like Kick4Life (Lesotho) and Figure Skating Harlem (USA) for the Sport for Good Award connect athletic triumph to social change, a legacy Olympic champions often embrace.
The 2025 Ceremony: A Celebration of Paris and Beyond
As the April 21, 2025, event in Madrid approaches, anticipation builds for which Olympic champions will claim Laureus statuettes.
Will Biles add a fifth win, tying Serena Williams? Can Duplantis outshine Verstappen and Djokovic? Might Alfred or Tebogo signal a new era with a Breakthrough victory?
The ceremony, marking the awards’ 25th anniversary, promises to blend Paris 2024’s fresh memories with the timeless prestige of past Olympic laureates.
The red carpet will dazzle with sporting royalty—past winners like Bolt, Federer, and Nadal may appear alongside 2025 hopefuls.
Presenters like Tom Brady and Usain Bolt, who graced 2024’s event, could return, adding star power. For fans, the broadcast offers a chance to relive Paris 2024’s highs while celebrating sport’s unifying force.
Conclusion: Olympic Champions as Laureus Standard-Bearers
Olympic champions nominated for the Laureus Awards embody the best of sport: skill, perseverance, and impact.
From Biles’ gravity-defying routines to Duplantis’ skyward leaps, their Paris 2024 triumphs have earned them a place among the world’s elite.
The Laureus Awards, with their blend of media scrutiny and Academy wisdom, ensure these athletes’ stories resonate far beyond the Olympic Village.
As we await the 2025 verdicts, one truth stands clear: these champions don’t just win medals—they redefine what’s possible, inspiring a world that watches in awe.
