After another record-breaking year for the legendary Katie Ledecky, the American has once again been recognised among the world’s greatest athletes through her nomination for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in the Sportswoman of the Year category.
Nominees were selected by the 1,300 members of the Laureus Global Media Panel; the winners will be decided by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on 20 April.
Ledecky rewrites history Singapore
The all-time leader in individual world titles produced more stunning swimming at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, bringing her career tally up to 23 through her double triumph in the Women’s 800m and 1,500m Freestyle.
In the 800m Freestyle, Ledecky set a Championship Record of 8:05.62 to claim gold – and in doing so became the first swimmer ever to win seven consecutive gold medals in a single event at the World Aquatics Championships. The race was dubbed by some commentators as the 'Race of the Century.'
“I just came in tonight, trying to enjoy it as much as I can. I don’t think I have anything to lose at this point of my career. Just enjoying the crowd, swimming against the best in the world,” she reflected afterwards.
Everyone in that heat is the next generation of swimmers coming up; just proud to be a part of it.”
Ledecky had earlier claimed her 1,500m Freestyle title with the fifth-fastest time in history, swimming 15:26.44. A silver in the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay and bronze in the 400m Freestyle took her career medal tally at the World Aquatics Championships to 30, further extending her record as the most decorated female swimmer in the history of the event.
Yu nominated for World Breakthrough of the Year
China’s Yu Zidi lit up the Singapore pool to become one of the breakout performers of the Championships, earning a bronze medal in the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay after helping China qualify for the final. She also finished fourth in the Women's 200m Individual Medley, 200m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley.
In doing so, Yu became the youngest-ever medallist at the World Aquatics Championships – and now the youngest-ever nominee at the Laureus Awards.
This is the third consecutive year a swimmer has been nominated in the Breakthrough of the Year category, following China’s Qin Haiyang in 2024 and Canada’s Summer McIntosh in 2025.
World Aquatics congratulates both nominees on their remarkable achievements, which continue to inspire the next generation and shape an exciting future for swimming.
The full list of nominees for the 2026 Laureus Awards can be found here.