A remarkable year in UK sport has been acknowledged with three nominations for the prestigious 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards.
This globally recognised event, voted for by the world’s sports media, honours the finest athletic achievements of the past year and will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a grand ceremony in Madrid on April 21.
This year’s awards will highlight the heroes of the Paris Olympic Games, Grand Slam champions, and world record-breakers.
Among them, British cycling sensation Tom Pidcock has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award after a breathtaking comeback to defend his Olympic cross-country mountain biking title.
The McLaren Formula One Team has earned a place on the shortlist for Laureus World Team of the Year, following a triumphant 2024 season in which they clinched their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years.
Completing the UK’s trio of nominations is Street League, a transformative initiative that uses sport to empower young people, nominated for the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
Tom Pidcock’s Unforgettable Olympic Triumph
Against all odds, Tom Pidcock pulled off one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks of the Paris Olympics, bagging his second straight gold in cross-country mountain biking.
An early puncture had him stuck in ninth, a frustrating 39 seconds off the pace—but giving up was never an option.
Lap by lap, he chipped away at the gap, grinding his way back into contention before launching a fearless final-lap move to snatch victory. Pure grit. Pure drama. Pure Pidcock.
Reflecting on his nomination, Pidcock expressed his gratitude: “The race in Paris will stay with me forever and likewise this nomination for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year is a special moment – especially as these wonderful Awards celebrate their 25th anniversary.
I said after the race that I just didn’t want to give up and I think that spirit can be seen across this list of Nominees.
They are all risk-takers, athletes who give everything in their sport, and I’m proud to stand beside them.”
Pidcock’s competition for the award includes Olympic gold-medal-winning skateboarders Yuto Horigome and Arisa Trew, snowboarding champion Chloe Kim, surfer Caroline Marks, and Polish speed climber Aleksandra Miroslaw.
McLaren’s Return to Dominance
After more than two decades away, McLaren has pulled off a comeback that reads like a blockbuster.
The 2024 season delivered six Grand Prix wins, 21 podium finishes, and two electrifying Sprint victories—everything needed to clinch a long-overdue Constructors’ Championship.
It’s a vivid reminder that this storied team isn’t just back; they’re here to shake up the sport. Now, they’re setting their sights on the Laureus World Team of the Year, ready to go toe-to-toe with heavyweights like Real Madrid, Spain’s Men’s Football Team, FC Barcelona Women, USA Basketball, and the Boston Celtics.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, acknowledged the significance of the nomination: “2024 was a fantastic year for the entire team. We achieved so much on and off track, with six grand prix wins, 21 podiums and two Sprint wins, leading us to achieve the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship title.
Our first team title since 1998 could not have been achieved without Lando, Oscar and the whole team in Woking working continually in the pursuit of getting us back to the front of the grid.
It’s an honour to be nominated for such a prestigious award and to be recognised for the incredible work of all the men and women at the McLaren Formula 1 Team.”
Street League: Sport as a Pathway to Opportunity
In the Laureus Sport for Good category, Street League is flying the flag for young people in the UK, using the power of sport to open doors to education, jobs, and apprenticeships.
Thousands have turned their lives around thanks to the program, which blends fitness with real-world career skills.
But they’re in strong company—fellow nominees include Kick4Life, a football-driven initiative giving at-risk kids in Lesotho a fresh start, and Kind Surf, which helps socially excluded young people in Spain find confidence and community through the waves.
The World’s Sporting Elite Gather in Madrid
Beyond the UK nominees, the Laureus Awards will feature an all-star lineup of sporting excellence. The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year category boasts names such as Léon Marchand, Carlos Alcaraz, Mondo Duplantis, Max Verstappen, and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar.
Meanwhile, the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year shortlist includes gymnastics icon Simone Biles, reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, and Olympic sprint sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Rising basketball star Victor Wembanyama headlines the nominees for Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year, following a groundbreaking rookie season in the NBA and a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
In the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability category, a host of Paralympic stars are in the running, including swimming icon Teresa Perales, table tennis sensation Jian Yuhan, and para-archery gold medalist Matt Stutzman—each a testament to elite performance and perseverance.
Meanwhile, the Laureus World Comeback of the Year will celebrate athletes who defied the odds to return to the top.
Among them is gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who battled back from a serious injury to claim Olympic gold, and Ariarne Titmus, who defended her 400m freestyle title after a major health scare.
A category packed with grit, resilience, and unforgettable sporting moments.
A Celebration of Sporting Greatness
The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards is set to be a night to remember, shining a spotlight on the resilience, skill, and sheer dedication of the world’s best athletes.
With the sporting world waiting to see who takes home the honours, the UK’s trio of nominees—Tom Pidcock, McLaren, and Street League—embody the excellence these awards are all about.
With legends of the past and present gathering in Madrid, the event will serve as both a reflection on the extraordinary moments of 2024 and an inspiration for the generations to come.