Mondo Duplantis at the Laureus Awards (© Getty Images)
World champions Mondo Duplantis, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden have been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards.
Duplantis – winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award last year – rose to new heights in an undefeated 2025, setting four world records across the season and successfully defending his world title in Tokyo. His achievements led to him being named the World Athletics Men’s Athlete of the Year.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who in November was named the World Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year, broke the championship record to win the 400m at the World Championships in Tokyo, then added the 4x400m title to her collection. US teammate Jefferson-Wooden, meanwhile, became the second woman in history to win the triple sprint crown (100m, 200m, 4x100m). Kipyegon receives a third consecutive nomination after winning a record-breaking fourth world 1500m title.
World triple jump record-holder Yulimar Rojas has been nominated for the World Comeback of the Year Award. The Venezuelan missed the entire 2024 season but returned to action in 2025 to earn world bronze in what was her first competition in two years.
A tendon injury left Yulimar Rojas in intense pain and unable to compete at Paris 2024 but, one year after undergoing successful surgery, Rojas won a bronze medal in the Triple Jump at the World Championships.
Spanish mountain runner Kilian Jornet, meanwhile, is nominated for the World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award.
The nominees were selected by a vote from the 1300 members of the Laureus global media panel. The award winners will be decided by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at a gala event in Madrid on 20 April.