Two of the biggest names in women’s artistic gymnastics have reached the top of the podium once again: Simone Biles (USA) and Rebeca Andrade (BRA). The two Olympic Champions received honors at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards held Monday in Madrid, Spain. Event organizers designate the Laureus World Sports Awards as “the most prestigious honours in sports,” intended to celebrate “the greatest athletes in the world.” The Laureus World Sports Academy determines the winners annually, with 69 “sporting legends” casting their votes to determine victors.
Among those casting their votes were Olympic Champion Nadia Comăneci (ROU), the first athlete to score a perfect ten in women’s gymnastics, and four-time Olympic Champion, men’s gymnast Li Xiaopeng (CHN). For the third time in her career, Biles won the award. She had previously won the title in 2016 and in 2020, both honoring her Olympic achievements in the respective years. The Laureus Academy provided a statement highlighting Biles’ accomplishments:
“(Biles) called the Paris Games her ‘Redemption Tour’ after withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics and taking a break from the sport, and she delivered in stunning fashion,” the Academy states. “As well as clinching the second all-around gold medal of her illustrious career, she won gold in team and vault – where she performed her celebrated Biles II, a Yurchenko double pike – and silver in the floor exercise.” “Her lifetime total of 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals makes her the most decorated gymnast in history. She has won the prestigious Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award three times and last year won the Comeback of the Year Award.”
The only woman to challenge Biles for the 2024 Olympic all-around title claimed an award of her own on Monday. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the country’s most decorated gymnast and two-time Olympic Champion, was honored with the award for Laureus World Comeback Of The Year.
Andrade won the award over fellow nominees Caeleb Dressel (USA) – Swimming, Lara Gut-Behrami (SWI) – Alpine Skiing, Marc Márquez (ESP) – Motor Cycling, Rishabh Pant (IND) – Cricket, and Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – Swimming. Andrade’s success in Paris is particularly astounding given her extensive injuries. The Academy cited Andrade’s three major knee injuries as reasoning for her nomination, along with concerns that she would not return to full health in time for Paris.
Instead, Andrade exceeded expectations, leading Brazil to its first time medal in history and claiming three individual medals, including a gold medal on floor exercise. “With a history of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Andrade has suffered several setbacks in her career, forcing her to consider giving up gymnastics,” the Academy states on its website. “The brilliant Brazilian had won a gold and silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, but she scarcely competed in 2024 and there was concern whether she would make it to Paris. However, her resilience and determination paid off and she won gold in the floor exercise, silver in the all-around and vault, and bronze in the team event.” “Having won a career total of six Olympic and nine World Championship medals, she is the most decorated Brazilian and Latin American gymnast of all.”
What’s Next For Biles and Andrade After an unprecedented run in the sport of gymnastics, retirement remains an open question for the 23-time World Champion from the Houston area. “I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do, rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what? I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.” Biles told Sports Illustrated earlier this year.
While the 28-year-old has not ruled out a shot at the 2028 Olympics—her first on home soil—she has stated a desire to experience a life outside gymnastics, especially alongside her husband Jonathan Owens, a safety for the Chicago Bears. Conversely, her close friend and competitor Andrade remains in the gym, training for more international accolades. Sporting 10.8 million followers on Instagram, Andrade’s success has catapulted her from gymnastics star to celebrity.
Despite her newfound celebrity status, the 25-year-old from Sao Paulo confirmed her commitment to training at today’s event. She has her sights set on the World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the fall. “I’m going to train for this Worlds, I hope everything goes well and I get good results,” she told Olympics.com. Though Andrade vows that she is “not even talking about being on the podium,” any title is within reach for one of the sport’s all-time greats.
