Faith Kipyegon, Ousmane Dembélé nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 03.03.26. | 16:02
The awards ceremony will be held at the iconic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, on Monday, 20 April, with winners to be selected by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy
Kenya’s middle-distance queen, Faith Kipyegon, is the country’s sole nominee for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, marking her third consecutive nomination at the prestigious global ceremony.
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Kipyegon earned her place on the shortlist after a stellar 2025 campaign that culminated with clinching 1500m gold at the World Championships, becoming the first woman to win four world titles in any distance-running event.
The awards ceremony will be held at the iconic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain, on Monday, 20 April, with winners to be selected by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
The 32-year-old headlines a competitive World Sportswoman of the Year category that also features Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, as well as sprint sensation Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who swept the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay world titles.
Swimming great Katie Ledecky is also in contention after becoming the first swimmer, male or female, to win seven consecutive world titles in the 800m freestyle.
Spanish football star Aitana Bonmatí, winner of her third straight Ballon d’Or Féminin, and women’s tennis World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who reached three Grand Slam finals last year, complete the shortlist.
🗞️ Here are the Nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026.
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 3, 2026
🏆 Who do you think the Laureus World Sports Academy should select as the Winners?
#Laureus26 pic.twitter.com/TNWHM9bbu4
In the men’s category, pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis returns to defend his World Sportsman of the Year crown.
He faces stiff competition from tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, French footballer Ousmane Dembélé, MotoGP champion Marc Márquez and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar.
The World Comeback of the Year Award shortlist includes Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas and golfer Rory McIlroy.
In the World Breakthrough of the Year category, Paris Saint-Germain winger Désiré Doué and NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are among the rising stars recognised.
Meanwhile, snowboarder Chloe Kim and Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal will battle it out for the Laureus Action Sports Award.
The 2026 ceremony will also commemorate a historic moment from May 2000, when Nelson Mandela, the first Patron of Laureus, delivered a landmark speech at the inaugural Laureus Awards, a moment that inspired the global Sport for Good movement.