Annual award
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.[ 4] The first ceremony was held on 25 May 2000 in Monte Carlo , at which Nelson Mandela gave the keynote speech.[ 5] As of 2020[update] , 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.[ 6] The awards are considered highly prestigious and are frequently referred to as the sporting equivalent of "Oscars ".[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
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".[ 7] 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medals by the International Olympic Committee in 2007,[ 10] her Laureus Award and nominations (2001 and 2003) were rescinded.[ 11] Sportswomen from athletics are the most successful overall, with eight wins and thirty-one nominations (excluding Jones' rescissions). American sportswomen have won more awards and nominations than any other nationality, with ten wins and thirty-six nominations. Serena Williams holds the record for the most awards with four.[ 12] The 2024 award was won by Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmatí who became the first footballer to ever win the award.[ 13]
List of winners and nominees [ edit ]
Statistics are correct as of 2024 nominations.
^ a b c "The awards" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff nominated at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards : All you need to know" . Tennis Clubhouse . 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024 .
^ "Laureus World Sport Awards 2024 Winners & Nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024 .
^ Snook, Ian (20 April 2016). "It's more than just an award" . Taranaki Daily News . Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 – via Stuff.co.nz.
^ Sugden, John; Tomlinson, Alan (30 April 2017). Sport and Peace-Building in Divided Societies: Playing with Enemies . Taylor and Francis. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-136-29233-0 . Archived from the original on 18 October 2017.
^ "Did you know?" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ a b Radford, Paul (25 May 2000). "Woods and Jones sweep Sporting Oscars" . International Association of Athletics Federations . Reuters . Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Lewis, Aimee (15 February 2017). "Usain Bolt and Simone Biles dominate at 'Sport's Oscars' " . CNN . Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Nico Rosberg mit dem Sport-Oscar geehrt" . Die Welt (in German). 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Mole, Giles (12 December 2007). "Marion Jones stripped of Olympic medals" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ a b "Awards 2000" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Atwal, Sanj (3 September 2022). "Serena Williams breaks two records before retirement at US Open" . Guinness World Records -gb . Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023 .
^ "Aitana Bonmati And Spain Take Home 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards" . Forbes . 22 April 2024. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2000 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Sports stars gather for Monaco awards" . BBC Sport . 22 May 2001. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Cathy Freeman joins Laureus World Sports Academy" . The Sydney Morning Herald . AAP . 7 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2002 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Jennifer Capriati" . The Guardian . 16 June 2003. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2003 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ a b c Swales, Andy (19 April 2016). "Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams win Laureus awards" . Sky Sports . Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2004 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Beachley stuck in paradise as Wie reaches new heights" . The Sydney Morning Herald . 12 May 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2005 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "More glory for Athens star Holmes" . BBC Sport. 16 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 December 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2006 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Ban, Irina (15 May 2008). Croatia – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture . Kuperard. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-85733-613-9 . Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2020 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2007 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Federer wins third Laureus prize" . BBC Sport. 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2008 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "British pair scoop Laureus awards" . BBC Sport. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2009 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Bolt runs off with Laureus award" . BBC Sport. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2010 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2011 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Rafael Nadal and Lindsey Vonn win Laureus awards" . BBC Sport. 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2012 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Djokovic named Laureus Sportsman of the Year for 2011" . CNN. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2013 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Fonseca, Pedro (12 March 2013). "Bolt, Ennis win top Laureus awards" . Reuters . Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2014 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Sebastian Vettel and Missy Franklin win Laureus world awards" . BBC Sport. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2015 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Dibaba named sportswoman of the year at Laureus World Sports Awards" . International Association of Athletics Federations. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2016 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2016 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ "Laureus Awards 2017: Bolt, Biles, Rosberg, Atherton & Leicester among winners" . BBC Sport. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017 .
^ Wright, Nicholas (27 February 2018). "Roger Federer wins Sportsman and Comeback of the Year at Laureus Awards" . Sky Sports . Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018 .
^ "Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2018 nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018 .
^ "Biles wins 2019 'Sportswoman of the Year' at Laureus World Sports Awards" . International Gymnastics Federation . 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019 .
^ "2019 nominees list revealed" . Laureus. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019 .
^ Church, Ben (19 February 2019). "Lindsey Vonn wins Spirit of Sport award at the 'Oscars of Sport' " . CNN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019 .
^ "Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 – nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020 .
^ "Simone Biles is 2020 'Sportswoman of the Year' at Laureus World Sports Awards" . FIG . 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020 .
^ "Laureus World Sports Awards 2021 – the nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021 .
^ "Laureus World Sports Awards 2022 Nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022 .
^ "Laureus World Sports Awards 2023 Nominees" . Laureus. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023 .
^ "Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff nominated at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards : All you need to know" . Tennis Clubhouse . 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024 .
* Since this award, Jones has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Her award has been rescinded.
Regular awards Discretionary awards