Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic champion, received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award after taking a two-year break from the sport. The American gymnast had a remarkable 2023 season after returning to competition following a hiatus for mental health reasons post the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Biles, a three-time Sportswoman of the Year award winner, now adds the Comeback of the Year Award to her collection and is gearing up to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games to add to her medal tally.
In another historic moment, Australian skateboarder Arisa Trew was named the Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first female skateboarder to win the award. The 13-year-old made headlines in 2023 by successfully landing a 720 (two full rotations) in vert skateboarding at the Tony Hawk Vert Alert in Utah. Tony Hawk, one of the hosts of the event and a Laureus World Sports Academy member, was the first skateboarder to achieve the trick back in 1985.
Aitana Bonmati, midfielder for Barcelona, was named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, while Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid won
