Aitana Bonmati, Spain’s midfielder who clinched the World Cup, was honored as the Sportswoman of the Year at the recent Laureus awards ceremony. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic of Serbia claimed the top men’s award. Bonmati, celebrated for her dominance in women’s football with achievements like FIFA’s The Best and the Ballon d’Or, also led the Spanish women’s football team to be recognized as Team of the Year, marking the first time a female squad has received this accolade.
Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, presented Djokovic with his fifth Laureus award, acknowledging Djokovic’s stellar 2023, which included tying Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles by winning the U.S. Open. Djokovic’s exceptional year saw him compete in all four major finals, emerging victorious at the Australian and French Opens while finishing as Wimbledon’s runner-up.
Jude Bellingham, the rising star from England who has dazzled in LaLiga with Real Madrid, was honored as the Breakthrough Player of the Year, a first for a footballer. Gymnast Simone Biles received the Comeback of the Year award following her remarkable return to international competition after a challenging period marked by struggles with mental health. Biles’ decision to step back from the sport for two years to prioritize her well-being underscores the importance of mental health in athletics.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, established in 2000, involve global media selecting nominees, with the final winners chosen by the esteemed 69-member Laureus World Sports Academy. The 2023 winners include Aitana Bonmati (Sportswoman of the Year), Novak Djokovic (Sportsman of the Year), Spain Women’s Football Team (Team of the Year), Jude Bellingham (Breakthrough of the Year), Simone Biles (Comeback of the Year), Diede de Groot (Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability), Arisa Trew (Action Sportsperson of the Year), and the Rafa Nadal Foundation (Laureus Sport for Good).
