Stab-high vault dominator Armand Duplantis and gymnastics queen Simone Biles have been awarded the Laureus Award as outstanding sports personalities in 2024. Both were awarded the “Sport-Oscar” on Easter Monday during the gala in Madrid. Biles cleared the price for the fourth time and pulled it the same with record holder and compatriot Serena Williams.
Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile went away empty-handed in the breakthrough of the year category. The Double winner had to surrender to the Spanish miracle talent and European champion Lamine Yamal from FC Barcelona. The Champions League winner Real Madrid was awarded the team of the year, the Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade received the prize for the comeback of the year.
Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal was honored with a special prize. After his career ended, the 22-time Grand Slam champion of the “Laureus Sporting Icon Award” was presented.
“The ultimate awards”
“The Laureus Awards are the ultimate awards that we want to win athletes,” said Duplantis, who won gold last summer at the Olympic Games in Paris: “I know that because I have been nominated for the fourth time – and that is more difficult to win a Laureus than an Olympic gold medal.”
Biles had secured four medals at the summer games in France. “I am so happy to be here in Madrid and to get my fourth Laureus World athletes’ athlete Award,” said the American: “I have won this award for the first time in 2017 and since then Laurus has been part of my story.”