Novak Djokovic, Aitana Bonmati win top honours in Laureus World Sports Awards

Legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic and Spain’s World Cup winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati took the top honours at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony. Djokovic was named the Sportsman of the Year while Bonmati was awarded the Sportswoman of the Year award.

The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media and the winners are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since 2000.

The Spanish Women’s football team was named the Team of the Year while England footballer Jude Bellingham was awarded the Breakthrough Player of the Year, the first footballer to win the award.

Djokovic has had a stellar 2023 where he drew level with tennis great Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles after winning the US Open last year. He received the award from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

The Laureus World Sports Award is another feather in Bonmati’s illustrious cap. The versatile footballer has already won many accolades including FIFA’s The Best, Ballon d’Or and World Cup MVP.

USA’s gymnastics torchbearer Simone Biles won the Comeback of the Year award after winning four gold medals at the World Championships, her first international event since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Biles headed to the Tokyo Games eyeing a record haul of six gold medals but returned home with just a silver and a bronze after suffering a crisis of confidence that saw the American drop out of multiple events due to “the twisties”, a type of mental block where gymnasts are disoriented.

List of winners

World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati

World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic

World Team of the Year: Spain Women’s Football Team

World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham

World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Arisa Trew

Laureus Sport for Good: Rafa Nadal Foundation