Only football and athletics were more represented than aquatics among the nominees in attendance, underlining the growing global strength of aquatics sports.

World Aquatics congratulates all of the winners and nominees at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, which marked their outstanding achievements from the previous year.

Marchand acclaimed by Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Duplantis

Having emerged as the face of his home Olympic Games in Paris with four gold medals, Leon Marchand (FRA) was among the five outstanding nominees for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis was the eventual winner in an extremely competitive category for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. But he was full of praise for Marchand’s heroics during Paris 2024, even confirming the Frenchman would have been just as worthy a winner.

“He inspired an entire nation in Paris. That’s the magic of sport: it can unite an entire country,” Duplantis said.

Marchand won the Olympic 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke Olympic golds on the same day and also triumphed in the 200m and 400m individual medley. He was chosen to extinguish the Olympic Flame at the Closing Ceremony at the Stade de France.

Marchand’s achievements led to him being named World Aquatics Male Swimmer of the Year for 2024.

Double aquatics nomination for Laureus World Comeback of the Year

Two swimmers were recognised for their remarkable performances in 2024 in the Laureus World Comeback of the Year category, which was ultimately won by Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade.

Caeleb Dressel (USA) withdrew mid-competition at the World Aquatics Championships – Budapest 2022 and took an eight-month break to address his mental health. Following his return, Dressel qualified for Paris 2024 and the chance to add to his seven Olympic gold medals. He came home with golds in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m mixed medley relays, together with a silver in the 4x100m medley relay.

Ariarne Titmus (AUS) was diagnosed with an ovarian tumour in September 2023. After undergoing successful surgery, she achieved an incredible defence of her 400m freestyle Olympic title in Paris, and also won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay, silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 800m freestyle.

Titmus wrote on Instagram after the award ceremony: “Last night I was pinching myself that I belonged in a room full of some of our planet’s greatest athletes. The little seven-year-old Ariarne never dreamt she’d one day be amongst such greatness. I feel so proud to be a nominee and last night will sit with me forever.

“A quick trip to Spain, but one well worth it!”

McIntosh completes star-studded line-up of aquatics nominees

Summer McIntosh (CAN) was nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year, as she won three Olympic golds in Paris at the age of just 17. The category was won by Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal.

With her success in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, McIntosh became the first Canadian woman to win multiple individual golds at an Olympic Games.

She followed it with three golds at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Budapest 2024 in the 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley, as well as a silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Those achievements led to her being crowned the World Aquatics Female Swimmer of the Year for 2024.

World Aquatics is deeply proud of the achievements of its athletes, and delighted they earned recognition at the Laureus World Sports Awards.