Laureus Awards: Four Brazilians in the running
Brazilian athletes Rayssa Leal (skateboarding), Yago Dora (surfing), João Fonseca (tennis), and Gabriel Araújo, also known as Gabrielzinho (Paralympic swimming), are among the nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards - considered the Oscars of sports - across various categories.
The list, released on Tuesday (Mar. 3), highlights the top athletes of the 2025 season. Winners will be chosen by the Laureus Academy jury, composed of sports stars, including world record holders and Olympic champions. The trophies will be presented on April 20 at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain.
Last year, gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the Laureus Award in the “Comeback of the Year” category for her podium finishes at the 2024 Paris Olympics - gold in floor exercise, silver in all-around and vault, and bronze in the team event - after overcoming a series of injuries.
Skateboarder Rayssa Leal, 18, is competing for the Laureus Award for the fourth time, nominated in the “Best Action Athlete” category. Last year, the Olympic medalist also won four titles in the Street League Skateboarding (SLS).
Yago Dora is also competing in the “Best Action Athlete” category. The surfer received his first Laureus nomination after winning an unprecedented title on the world surfing circuit and finishing 2025 at the top of the world rankings.
Also making the list for the first time is 19-year-old tennis player João Fonseca, who will compete in the “Breakthrough of the Year” category. After starting 2025 ranked 145th in the world, the Brazilian climbed 121 spots to finish the year among the top 24 players globally. This meteoric rise came after winning titles at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires and ATP 500 in Basel, as well as securing impressive victories over experienced players Andrey Rublev (Russia), Hubert Hurkacz (Poland), and Denis Shapovalov (Canada).
Also making his debut on the Laureus nominations list, multi-Paralympic champion Gabriel Araújo (three golds in Paris 2024 and two in Tokyo 2020) is competing in the “Best Athlete with a Disability” category. Last season, he won three Paralympic world championships in freestyle swimming, S2 class (for athletes with physical-motor impairments), in the 50m, 100m, and 200m events.
Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias is Brazil’s most decorated Laureus winner. He has claimed three trophies as “Best Paralympic Athlete of the Year,” in 2009, 2013, and 2016.
