Brazilian artistic gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the Comeback of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 at Galería De Cristal in Madrid on Monday, April 21, following her Paris Olympics success after a spate of injuries. Andrade, who struggled with multiple anterior cruciate ligament issues that pushed her to mull retirement after the Tokyo Olympics 2020, returned to the podium with the support of a single mother and seven siblings, winning four medals and defying several odds.
Andrade beat Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant to walk away with the honour, who himself came back to life after a near-fatal car accident in December 2022 and took almost 16 months to recover fully after suffering nasty injuries all over his body. Swiss alpine skier Lara Gut-Behrami, Spanish motorcycle racer Marc Marquez, and Olympic champion swimmers Caeleb Dressel of the USA and Australia's Ariarne Titmus were among the other nominees for the Comeback of the Year.
"This beautiful Laureus statuette represents a huge amount of hard work, of struggle and pain, and also great happiness and one of my most cherished memories – standing on top of the Olympic podium again," Andrade said.
Swedish-American Pole Vaulter Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis bagged the Sportsman of the Year award following his world record-breaking spree in the last 12 months or so, while American gymnast Simone Biles walked away with the Sportswoman of the Year Award, having won four medals at the Paris Olympics 2024, including three Gold.
"I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me..." Duplantis said. Duplantis beat the likes of Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis), Leon Marchand (Swimming), Tadej Pogacar (Cycling) and Max Verstappen (F1) to win the title.
Biles, on the other hand, received more awards than Aitana Bonmati, Spain's World Cup winner (Football), Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, USA's star hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and World No. 1 Tennis star, Aryna Sabalenka. Among other winners, Real Madrid won the Team of the Year award while tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who retired from the sport recently, was named the Sporting Icon of the Year.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Armand Duplantis
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Jiang Yuyan
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life
Laureus Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater
