Awards season continues for Saint Lucian track sensation, national hero, and World and Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who is one of six Paris 2024 gold medallists among the nominees for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, which have recognised excellence in international sport for the last quarter-century.
Along with fellow sprint champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Alfred has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award. The 23-year-old from the Monkeytown community in Ciceron won a first-ever Olympic gold for Saint Lucia, while Botswana celebrated its first Olympic gold thanks to Tebogo’s men’s 200m win.
Alfred also charted new territory for Saint Lucia at the World Indoor Championships, where she snatched gold in the women’s 60m dash. She ended 2024 with the Wanda Diamond League 100m crown, confirming her as one of the fastest women ever.
Alfred and Tebogo face stiff competition. French basketballer Victor Wembanyama, Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal, Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh, and the Bayer 04 Leverkusen men’s football team are the other breakthrough nominees.
Olympic marathon winner Sifan Hassan, three-time 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon, and 400m hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have all been nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award.
Joining them are gymnastics icon Simone Biles, football star Aitana Bonmati, and tennis Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Mondo Duplantis, who won a second Olympic pole vault gold and raised his own world record twice more, is nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
Other nominees include Carlos Alcaraz (tennis), Leon Marchand (swimming), Tadej Pogacar (cycling), and Max Verstappen (Formula 1).
The ceremony, set for April 21st, will once again be held in Madrid, Spain. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the prestigious awards.
Yeeees! Yeeees! Take it all my girl. Take it all!