Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year

Last updated

Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year
Simone Biles National Team 2024.jpg
Simone Biles, 2025 winner
Awarded for"the most remarkable women from the world of sport along with the greatest achievements fans have admired throughout the year." [1]
LocationMadrid (2025)
Presented byLaureus Sport for Good Foundation
First award2000
Currently held by Flag of the United States.svg Simone Biles (4th award)
Most awards Flag of the United States.svg Serena Williams
Flag of the United States.svg Simone Biles
(4 awards each)
Most nominations Flag of the United States.svg Serena Williams
Flag of Jamaica.svg Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Flag of the United States.svg Allyson Felix
Flag of the United States.svg Katie Ledecky
(5 nominations each)
Website Official website

The Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year is an annual award honouring the achievements of individual women from the world of sports. It was first awarded in 2000 as one of the seven constituent awards presented during the Laureus World Sports Awards. [1] The awards are presented by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global organisation involved in more than 150 charity projects supporting 500,000 young people. [2] The first ceremony was held on 25 May 2000 in Monte Carlo, at which Nelson Mandela gave the keynote speech. [3] As of 2020, a shortlist of six nominees for the award comes from a panel composed of the "world's leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters". [1] The Laureus World Sports Academy then selects the winner who is presented with a Laureus statuette, created by Cartier, at an annual awards ceremony held in various locations around the world. [4] The awards are considered highly prestigious and are frequently referred to as the sporting equivalent of "Oscars". [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The inaugural winner of the award was American sprinter Marion Jones, who, at the time of the presentation, was considered to be "the world's dominant sprinter". [5] She later admitted to having taken performance-enhancing drugs and, along with being stripped of her Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee in 2007, [8] her Laureus Award and nominations (2001 and 2003) were rescinded. [9] American sportswomen have won more awards and nominations than any other nationality, with eleven wins and thirty-eight nominations. American tennis player Serena Williams and American artistic gymnast Simone Biles holds the record for the most awards with four. [10] The 2025 award was won by American artistic gymnast Simone Biles for the fourth time. [11]

List of winners and nominees

Key
*Indicates individual whose award or nomination was later rescinded
Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year winners and nominees
YearImageWinnerNationalitySportNomineesRef(s)
2000 Marion Jones Sydney 2000.JPEG Marion Jones *Flag of the United States.svg  USA Athletics Lindsay Davenport (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
Gabriela Szabo (Flag of Romania.svg  ROM) – athletics
[9] [12]
2001 Cathy Freeman (cropped).jpg Cathy Freeman Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Athletics Inge de Bruijn (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – swimming
Marion Jones* (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Karrie Webb (Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS) – golf
Venus Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
[13] [14]
2002 Jennifer Capriati Wimbledon 2004.jpg Jennifer Capriati Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tennis Inge de Bruijn (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – swimming
Stacy Dragila (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Annika Sörenstam (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – golf
Venus Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
[15] [16]
2003 SWilliams-SYD-1.jpg Serena Williams Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tennis Marion Jones* (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Janica Kostelić (Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO) – alpine skiing
Paula Radcliffe (Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR) – athletics
Annika Sörenstam (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – golf
[17] [18]
2004 AnnikaSorenstamProAm2006.JPG Annika Sörenstam Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Golf Inge de Bruijn (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – swimming
Justine Henin-Hardenne (Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL) – tennis
Maria de Lurdes Mutola (Flag of Mozambique.svg  MOZ) – athletics
Paula Radcliffe (Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR) – athletics
Serena Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
[19] [20]
2005 Kelly Holmes at Athens 2004 cropped.jpg Kelly Holmes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Athletics Yelena Isinbayeva (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – athletics
Carolina Klüft (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – athletics
Maria Sharapova (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – tennis
Annika Sörenstam (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – golf
Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – cycling
[21] [22]
2006 JanicaKostelic.jpg Janica Kostelić Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Alpine skiing Kim Clijsters (Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL) – tennis
Tirunesh Dibaba (Flag of Ethiopia (1996-2009).svg  ETH) – athletics
Yelena Isinbayeva (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – athletics
Carolina Klüft (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – athletics
Paula Radcliffe (Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR) – athletics
Annika Sörenstam (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – golf
[23] [24]
2007 Isinbayeva Celebrating cropped.jpg Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Athletics Justine Henin (Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL) – tennis
Carolina Klüft (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – athletics
Laure Manaudou (Flag of France.svg  FRA) – swimming
Amélie Mauresmo (Flag of France.svg  FRA) – tennis
Maria Sharapova (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – tennis
[25] [26]
2008 Justine Henin Miami (cropped).jpg Justine Henin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Tennis Yelena Isinbayeva (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – athletics
Carolina Klüft (Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE) – athletics
Libby Lenton (Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS) – swimming
Marta (Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA) – football
Lorena Ochoa (Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX) – golf
[27] [28]
2009 Yelena Isinbayeva Doha 2010.jpg Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Athletics Tirunesh Dibaba (Flag of Ethiopia.svg  ETH) – athletics
Lorena Ochoa (Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX) – golf
Stephanie Rice (Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS)– swimming
Lindsey Vonn (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
Venus Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
[29] [30]
2010 Melbourne Australian Open 2010 Serena Serve.jpg Serena Williams Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tennis Shelly-Ann Fraser (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
Federica Pellegrini (Flag of Italy.svg  ITA) – swimming
Sanya Richards (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Britta Steffen (Flag of Germany.svg  GER) – swimming
Lindsey Vonn (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
[18] [31]
2011 LindseyVonnApr10-3.jpg Lindsey Vonn Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alpine skiing Kim Clijsters (Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL) – tennis
Jessica Ennis (Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR) – athletics
Blanka Vlašić (Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO) – athletics
Serena Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
Caroline Wozniacki (Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN) – tennis
[32] [33]
2012 Vivian Cheruiyot Daegu 2011.jpg Vivian Cheruiyot Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Athletics Carmelita Jeter (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Maria Höfl-Riesch (Flag of Germany.svg  GER) – alpine skiing
Homare Sawa (Flag of Japan.svg  JPN) – football
Petra Kvitová (Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  CZE) – tennis
Yani Tseng (Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  TPE) – golf
[34] [35]
2013 Jessica Ennis 100 m.jpg Jessica Ennis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Athletics Allyson Felix (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Lindsey Vonn (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
Missy Franklin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Serena Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
[36] [37]
2014 Missy Franklin 3.jpg Missy Franklin Flag of the United States.svg  USA Swimming Serena Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
Yelena Isinbayeva (Flag of Russia.svg  RUS) – athletics
Tina Maze (Flag of Slovenia.svg  SLO) – alpine skiing
Nadine Angerer (Flag of Germany.svg  GER) – football
[38] [39]
2015 Genzebe Dibaba, BG2015.JPG Genzebe Dibaba Flag of Ethiopia.svg  ETH Athletics Valerie Adams (Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL) – athletics
Li Na (Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  CHN) – tennis
Tina Maze (Flag of Slovenia.svg  SLO) – alpine skiing
Serena Williams (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – tennis
Marit Bjørgen (Flag of Norway.svg  NOR) – Nordic skiing
[40] [41]
2016 Williams S. WM16 (20) (28339693721).jpg Serena Williams Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tennis Genzebe Dibaba (Flag of Ethiopia.svg  ETH) – athletics
Anna Fenninger (Flag of Austria.svg  AUT) – alpine skiing
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
Katie Ledecky (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Carli Lloyd (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – football
[18] [42]
2017 Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympics all-around gold medal podium (28262782114).jpg Simone Biles Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gymnastics Allyson Felix (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Laura Kenny (Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR) – cycling
Angelique Kerber (Flag of Germany.svg  GER) – tennis
Katie Ledecky (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Elaine Thompson (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
[43] [44]
2018 Williams S. RG18 (17) (41168711240).jpg Serena Williams Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tennis Allyson Felix (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Katie Ledecky (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Garbiñe Muguruza (Flag of Spain.svg  ESP) – tennis
Caster Semenya (Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA) – athletics
Mikaela Shiffrin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
[45] [46]
2019 Simone Biles Rio 2016e.jpg Simone Biles Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gymnastics Simona Halep (Flag of Romania.svg  ROU) – tennis
Angelique Kerber (Flag of Germany.svg  GER) – tennis
Ester Ledecká (Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  CZE) – snowboarding
Daniela Ryf (Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   SUI) – triathlon
Mikaela Shiffrin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – skiing
[47] [48] [49]
2020 Simone Biles na Rio 2016 cropped.jpg Simone Biles Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gymnastics Allyson Felix (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Megan Rapinoe (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – football
Mikaela Shiffrin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
Naomi Osaka (Flag of Japan.svg  JPN) – tennis
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
[50] [51]
2021 NaomiOsaka-smile-2020 (cropped).png Naomi Osaka Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Tennis Anna van der Breggen (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – cycling
Federica Brignone (Flag of Italy.svg  ITA) – alpine skiing
Brigid Kosgei (Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN) – athletics
Wendie Renard (Flag of France.svg  FRA) – football
Breanna Stewart (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – basketball
[52]
2022 Elaine Thompson Beijing 2015.jpg Elaine Thompson-Herah Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Athletics Ashleigh Barty (Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS) – tennis
Allyson Felix (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Katie Ledecky (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Emma McKeon (Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS) – swimming
Alexia Putellas (Flag of Spain.svg  ESP) – football
[53]
2023 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Oregon 2022 (2).jpg Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Athletics Katie Ledecky (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – swimming
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Alexia Putellas (Flag of Spain.svg  ESP) – football
Mikaela Shiffrin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – alpine skiing
Iga Swiatek (Flag of Poland.svg  POL) – tennis
[54]
2024 Brann - Barca Femeni CG3A5805 (cropped).jpg Aitana Bonmatí Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Football Shericka Jackson (Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM) – athletics
Faith Kipyegon (Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN) – athletics
Sha'Carri Richardson (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Mikaela Shiffrin (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – skiing
Iga Swiatek (Flag of Poland.svg  POL) – tennis
[55]
2025 Simone Biles National Team 2024.jpg Simone Biles Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gymnastics Aitana Bonmatí (Flag of Spain.svg  ESP) – football
Sifan Hassan (Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED) – athletics
Faith Kipyegon (Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN) – athletics
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Flag of the United States.svg  USA) – athletics
Aryna Sabalenkatennis
[56]

Statistics

Statistics are correct as of 2025 nominations.

See also

References

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