Laureus Trophies: Djokovic crowned sportsman of the year for the fifth time, a record

Novak Djokovic succeeds Lionel Messi as “world sportsman of the year”. The Serbian tennis player received his trophy this Monday evening, during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2024 organized in Madrid. At 36 years old, this is the fifth time he has received this distinction after 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019. A record. In one year, the world number 1 won three Grand Slam tournaments (Roland-Garros and the US Open), reached the Wimbledon final, won two Masters 1000s (Cincinatti, Paris-Bercy) and triumphed at the Masters.

“Djokovic has not only demonstrated an unfailing thirst for victory, but also a longevity at the top of his sport which sets new standards for those who follow him,” writes the Laureus Foundation, which promotes the practice of sport as a social vector and has celebrated sporting excellence with its World Sports Awards since 2000.

Also read: Is Novak Djokovic the greatest tennis player of all time?

The jury awarded the “world sportswoman of the year” trophy to FC Barcelona footballer Aitana Bonmatí. The Spaniard is the winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2022 and 2023 and was crowned world champion with the Spanish team in August 2023. La Roja also received the "world team of the year". Bonmatí “thus imitated Lionel Messi, doubly crowned at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2023, by offering himself the individual and collective double, which illustrates the heights reached by the new queen of women's football”, underline the organizers.

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, world number 3, personally presented the “revelation of the year” trophy to English footballer Jude Bellingham, who has been making sparks in the Spanish championship since his arrival at Real Madrid this summer from Borussia Dortmund.

American gymnast Simone Biles received the “comeback of the year” award for her successful return after a three-year break for her mental health. She won four gold medals at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Biles was already a three-time winner of the Sportswoman of the Year title (2017, 2019 and 2020). 13-year-old Australian skateboard star Arisa Trew made history in 2023 by becoming the first skateboarder to land a 720 (two full rotations). This historic feat allows her to be the first skateboarder to win the World Extreme Sportswoman of the Year award.

Diede de Groot became the second wheelchair tennis star - after Esther Vergeer's triumphs in 2008 and 2002 - to win the Laureus "World Sportsman of the Year with a Disability" award. The Dutchwoman received this award thanks to a historic 2023, in which she extended her unbeaten streak to 127 matches, achieving a third consecutive Grand Slam: an unrivaled feat in the history of tennis.

Finally, the “sport for good” trophy was presented to the Rafa Nadal Foundation, which “uses sport and education to inspire more than 1,000 young people in disadvantaged economic communities in Spain and India.” Sponsor of the program and five-time winner in three different categories (“sportsman of the year”, “revelation of the year” and “comeback of the year”), Rafael Nadal was present in Madrid to receive the trophy.

Laureus Trophy for World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic

Laureus Trophy for World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmatí

Laureus World Team of the Year Trophy: Spain Women's Football Team

Laureus Trophy for World Revelation of the Year: Jude Bellingham

Laureus Trophy for Global Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles

Laureus Sport for Good Trophy: Rafa Nadal Foundation

Laureus Trophy for World Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot

Laureus Trophy for World Extreme Sportsman of the Year: Arisa Trew