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Simone Biles from the United States and Rebeca Andrade from Brazil have once again distinguished themselves in the realm of women’s artistic gymnastics by receiving top honors at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, held recently in Madrid, Spain.
Regarded as “the most prestigious honours in sports,” the Laureus World Sports Awards aim to recognize the leading athletes globally. Winners are determined annually by the Laureus World Sports Academy, which consists of 69 esteemed figures from various sports casting their votes.
Notable voting members included Olympic legend Nadia Comăneci from Romania, the first gymnast to achieve a perfect ten, and Chinese four-time Olympic Champion gymnast Li Xiaopeng.
Biles was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year, alongside a notable shortlist that featured athletes such as Aitana Bonmatí from Spain in football, and athletes Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Aryna Sabalenka from their respective sports.
The Laureus Academy lauded Biles’ remarkable journey back to competition, referencing her experience during the Tokyo Olympics where she withdrew for mental health reasons. They noted her impressive performance at the Paris Games, where she secured a second all-around gold medal while also winning gold in the team and vault categories, and earned silver on the floor exercise.
“With a total of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, she stands as the most decorated gymnast in history. Last year she also triumphed with the Comeback of the Year Award,” the Academy communicated.
Andrade, who was Biles’ strongest challenger for the all-around title at the 2024 Olympics, also had a reason to celebrate as she received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
Competing against nominees such as swimmer Caeleb Dressel and alpine skier Lara Gut-Behrami, Andrade’s recognition resonates particularly strongly due to her remarkable recovery from significant knee injuries that had previously cast doubt on her career.
Despite fears regarding her fitness ahead of the Paris Olympics, Andrade surpassed expectations by leading Brazil to its first-ever medal in gymnastics while claiming three individual medals, including a gold in floor exercise.
The Academy remarked on Andrade’s tenacity through serious ACL injuries, highlighting her many struggles which at one point led her to consider leaving the sport. However, her perseverance paid off as she not only competed but excelled at a high level after a challenging road.
What Lies Ahead for Biles and Andrade
With an illustrious career, the question of retirement looms for Biles, who has made her mark as a 23-time World Champion. She expressed her thoughts candidly, considering the possibility that she may not have much left to prove in the sport.
Biles, now 28, hasn’t dismissed the idea of competing in the 2028 Olympics, which would be particularly special as they will be held in the United States. Nonetheless, she also expressed a keen desire to explore life beyond gymnastics, particularly with her husband, Jonathan Owens, who plays as a safety for the Chicago Bears.
Meanwhile, Andrade, at 25 years old and with a growing fan base of 10.8 million followers on Instagram, is focused on maintaining her momentum in gymnastics. She confirmed her commitment to training, aiming for the World Championships set for Jakarta, Indonesia in the fall.
“I’m going to train for this Worlds, and I hope everything goes well,” she stated, emphasizing her determination while remaining cautious about setting podium expectations. Given her talent and determination, the possibility for Andrade to secure further titles remains bright.
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