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Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year

Annual award

Summary

Annual award

FieldValue
nameLaureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year
imageRebeca Andrade in 2023.jpg
imagesize150px
awarded_for"sportsperson or team who has overcome injury, illness, adversity, disappointment or failure and risen back to triumph in the sporting arena. The Award may also mark a historic fightback by an individual or a team in a sporting event or series of sports events."
presenterLaureus Sport for Good Foundation
locationMadrid (2025)
year2000
year2
holderBRA Rebeca Andrade (2025)
website

The Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year is an annual award to honor an individual or team who have made a comeback in sports. First presented in 2000, it is one of the seven awards presented during the annual Laureus World Sports Awards of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global organisation involved in more than 150 charity projects supporting 500,000 young people. The awards are considered highly prestigious and are frequently referred to as the sporting equivalent of the Oscars.

Each year, a panel composed of the "world's leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters" makes a shortlist of candidates, of which one winner is chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy. At the ceremony, which was first held on 25 May 2000 in Monte Carlo and since at various locations around the world, the winner receives a Laureus statuette created by Cartier.

The first winner of the award was American road cyclist Lance Armstrong, who had recovered from testicular cancer to win the 1999 Tour de France. After Armstrong admitted to doping in 2013, Laureus rescinded his awards and nominations. , the award has been won by a different individual sportsperson every year (seven to women, 17 to men), although elevens teams have been nominated – the England men's cricket team (2005), Miami Heat (2007), the Great Britain national rugby league team (2008), Crusaders (2012), Queensland Reds (2012), European Ryder Cup Team (2013), Germany Men's Olympic Eights Team (2013), Oracle Team USA (2014), FC Barcelona (2018), Chapecoense (2018) and Liverpool F.C. (2022). Tennis players dominate the winners list, with seven awards, while athletes, golfers and rugby union players have won twice. The 2025 winner of the award was the Brazilian artistic gymnast Rebeca Andrade.

List of winners and nominees

*
Indicates individual whose award or nomination was later rescinded
YearImageWinnerNationalitySportNomineesRefs*Ronaldo
2000[[File:Lance Armstrong AdH01.jpg100pxalt=Lance Armstrong in 2001]]USACyclingAndre Agassi (USA) – tennis
Ludmila Engquist (SWE) – athleticsurl = http://laureus17.laureus.com/awards-history/2000/nominees/comeback/title = Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2000 nomineespublisher = Laureusaccess-date = 21 October 2017url-status = deadarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171023102714/http://laureus17.laureus.com/awards-history/2000/nominees/comeback/archive-date = 23 October 2017df = dmy-all}}
2001[[File:Jennifer Capriati Wimbledon 2004.jpg100pxalt=Jennifer Capriati in 2004]]USATennisHeike Drechsler (GER) – athletics
Janica Kostelić (CRO) – alpine skiing
Mario Lemieux (CAN) – ice hockey
Dara Torres (USA) – swimming
2002[[File:Goran Ivanisevic serve Wimbledon 2004 (cropped).jpg100pxalt=Goran Ivanisevic in 2004]]CROTennisJohn Daly (USA) – golf
Michael Jordan (USA) – basketball
Bernhard Langer (GER) – golf
Mario Lemieux (CAN) – ice hockeyurl = http://laureus17.laureus.com/awards-history/2002/nominees/comeback/title = Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2002 nomineespublisher = Laureusaccess-date = 21 October 2017url-status = deadarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171023102714/http://laureus17.laureus.com/awards-history/2002/nominees/comeback/archive-date = 23 October 2017df = dmy-all}}
2003[[File:Ronaldinho06Jun2005Abr-bis.jpg100pxalt=Ronaldo in 2005]]BRAFootballJanica Kostelić (CRO) – alpine skiing
Hermann Maier (AUT) – alpine skiing
Pete Sampras (USA) – tennis
Franziska van Almsick (GER) – swimming
2004[[File:Hermann Maier 1.jpg100pxalt=Hermann Maier in 2006]]AUTAlpine skiingFred Couples (USA) – golf
Inge de Bruijn (NED) – swimming
Peter Forsberg (SWE) – ice hockey
Martina Navratilova (USA) – tennis
Alex Zanardi (ITA) – auto racing
2005100pxalt=Alex Zanardi in 2007ITAAuto racingJohn Daly (USA) – golf
England Men's Cricket Team (ENG) – cricket
Tadahiro Nomura (JPN) – judo
Paula Radcliffe (ENG) – athletics
Shane Warne (AUS) – cricket
2006[[File:Martina Hingis061018.jpg100pxalt=Martina Hingis in 2006]]SUITennisKajsa Bergqvist (SWE) – athletics
Kim Clijsters (BEL) – tennis
Antoine Dénériaz (FRA) – alpine skiing
Jonah Lomu (NZL) – rugby union
Colin Montgomerie (SCO) – golf
2007[[File:Serena Williams Serve Wimbledon.JPG100pxalt=Serena Williams in 2007]]USATennisDrew Brees (USA) – American football
Ben Curtis (USA) – golf
Roy Jones Jr. (USA) – boxing
Miami Heat (USA) – basketball
Zinedine Zidane (FRA) – football
2008[[File:Paula Radcliffe NYC Marathon 2008 cropped.jpg100pxalt=Paula Radcliffe in 2008]]GBRAthleticsChristine Ohuruogu (GBR) – athletics
Great Britain national rugby league team (GBR) – rugby league
Jana Rawlinson (AUS) – athletics
Steve Stricker (USA) – golf
Jonny Wilkinson (GBR) – rugby union
2009[[File:Vitali Klitschko 2009 01 27.jpg100pxalt=Vitali Klitschko in 2009]]UKRBoxingAnna Meares (AUS) – cycling
Greg Norman (AUS) – golf
Matthias Steiner (GER) – weightlifting
Maarten van der Weijden (NED) – swimming
Tiger Woods (USA) – golf
2010[[File:Kim Clijsters 2010 (1).jpg100pxalt=Kim Clijsters in 2010]]BELTennisLance Armstrong* (USA) – cycling
Jessica Ennis (GBR) – athletics
Brett Favre (USA) – American football
Blanka Vlašić (CRO) – athletics
Tom Watson (USA) – golf
2011[[File:Valentino Rossi 2010 Laguna Seca.jpg100pxalt=Valentino Rossi in 2010]]ITAMotoGPCarolina Klüft (SWE) – athletics
Merlene Ottey (SLO) – athletics
Tyson Gay (USA) – athletics
Justine Henin (BEL) – tennis
Paula Creamer (USA) – golf
2012[[File:KLM 2009 Round 1 Darren Clarke.JPG100pxalt=Darren Clarke in 2009]]GBRGolfCrusaders (NZL) – rugby union
Eric Abidal (FRA) – football
Queensland Reds (AUS) – rugby union
Liu Xiang (CHN) – athletics
Sergio García (ESP) – golf
2013[[File:Félix Sánchez 2013.JPG100pxalt=Felix Sanchez in 2013]]DOMAthleticsAnna Meares (AUS) – cycling
Ernie Els (RSA) – golf
Europe Ryder Cup Team (Europe) – golf
Germany Men's Olympic Eights Team (GER) – rowing
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) – athletics
2014[[File:IBI14 Rafa Nadal.jpg100pxalt=Rafael Nadal in 2014]]ESPTennisYelena Isinbayeva (RUS) – athletics
Oracle Team USA (USA) – sailing
Tony Parker (FRA) – basketball
Ronaldinho (BRA) – football
Tiger Woods (USA) – golf
2015[[File:Schalk Burger.jpg100pxalt=Schalk Burger in 2008]]RSARugby unionFrancesco Acerbi (ITA) – football
Diego Milito (ARG) – football
Jo Pavey (GBR) – athletics
Pierre Vaultier (FRA) – snowboarding
Oliver Wilson (GBR) – golf
2016[[File:Dan Carter 1024x768.jpg100pxalt=Dan Carter in 2011]]NZLRugby unionJessica Ennis-Hill (GBR) – athletics
Mick Fanning (AUS) – surfing
Michael Phelps (USA) – swimming
David Rudisha (KEN) – athletics
Lindsey Vonn (USA) – alpine skiing
2017[[File:Michael Phelps (1).jpg100pxalt=Michael Phelps in 2017]]USASwimmingRuth Beitia (ESP) – athletics
Juan Martín del Potro (ARG) – tennis
Fabienne St Louis (MUS) – triathlon
Nick Skelton (GBR) – equestrian
Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) – alpine skiing
2018[[File:Federer WM16 (37) (28136155830).jpg100pxalt=Federer in 2016]]SUITennisFC Barcelona (ESP) – football
Justin Gatlin (USA) – athletics
Sally Pearson (AUS) – athletics
Valentino Rossi (ITA) – MotoGP
Chapecoense (BRA) – footballurl = http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11270150/roger-federer-wins-sportsman-and-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-awardspublisher = Sky Sportsaccess-date = 28 February 2018title = Roger Federer wins Sportsman and Comeback of the Year at Laureus Awardsfirst = Nicholaslast = Wrightdate = 27 February 2018url-status = livearchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180228133112/http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11270150/roger-federer-wins-sportsman-and-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-awardsarchive-date = 28 February 2018df = dmy-all }}
2019[[File:Tiger Woods 2018.jpg100pxalt=Woods in 2018]]USAGolfVinesh Phogat (IND) – freestyle wrestling
Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) – figure skating
Mark McMorris (CAN) – snowboarding
Lindsey Vonn (USA) – alpine skiing
Bibian Mentel-Spee (NED) – para-snowboardingurl = https://www.bbc.com/sport/47286364publisher = BBCaccess-date = 19 February 2019title = Laureus World Sports Awards: Simone Biles and Novak Djokovic win top honoursdate = 18 February 2019url-status = livearchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190218232556/https://www.bbc.com/sport/47286364archive-date = 18 February 2019df = dmy-all }}
2020[[File:Let me introduce my simulator (Floersch on YouTube) 05 (cropped).jpg100pxalt=Flörsch in 2016]]GERAuto racingAndy Murray (GBR) – tennis
Christian Lealiifano (AUS) – rugby union
Kawhi Leonard (USA) – basketball
Liverpool F.C. (GBR) – football
Nathan Adrian (USA) – swimmingurl=https://formulaspy.com/f1/sophia-floersch-wins-world-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-67788title=Formula 1 – Sophia Floersch wins 'World Comeback of the Year' at Laureusdate=17 February 2020website=FormulaSpylanguage=en-GBaccess-date=18 February 2020archive-date=7 February 2021archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207122231/https://formulaspy.com/f1/sophia-floersch-wins-world-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-67788url-status=live}}
2021CANSnowboardingDaniel Bard (USA) – baseball
Kento Momota (JPN) – badminton
Alex Morgan (USA) – football
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – alpine skiing
Alex Smith (USA) – American footballurl = https://www.laureus.com/world-sports-awards/2021publisher = Laureusaccess-date = 7 May 2021title = Laureus World Sports Awards 2021 – the nomineesarchive-date = 16 March 2021archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210316063303/https://www.laureus.com/world-sports-awards/2021url-status = live}}
2022[[File:Sky Brown at Youth Olympic Village.jpg100pxalt=Brown in 2020]]GBRSkateboardingSimone Biles (USA) – gymnastics
Mark Cavendish (GBR) – cycling
Tom Daley (GBR) – diving
Marc Márquez (ESP) – MotoGP
Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) – cyclingurl=https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12597689/laureus-world-sports-awards-emma-raducanu-sky-brown-and-bethany-shriever-all-winnerstitle=Laureus World Sports Awards: Emma Raducanu, Sky Brown and Bethany Shriever all winnerswork=Sky Sportsdate=25 April 2022accessdate=25 April 2022archive-date=9 March 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309161428/https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12597689/laureus-world-sports-awards-emma-raducanu-sky-brown-and-bethany-shriever-all-winnersurl-status=live}}
2023[[File:20140904 - Christian Eriksen (cropped).jpg100pxalt=Eriksen in 2014]]DENFootballAnnemiek van Vleuten (NLD) – cycling
Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) – MotoGP
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) – athletics
Klay Thompson (USA) – basketball
Tiger Woods (USA) – golfurl=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/christian-eriksen-wins-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-world-sport-awardstitle=Eriksen Wins Laureus Comeback of The Year Awardpublisher=Manchester United F.C.date=9 May 2023access-date=9 May 2023archive-date=9 May 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509015853/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/christian-eriksen-wins-comeback-of-the-year-at-laureus-world-sport-awardsurl-status=live}}
2024[[File:Simone Biles na Rio 2016 cropped.jpg100pxalt=Simone Biles]]USAGymnasticsKatarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) – athletics
Siya Kolisi (RSA) – rugby sevens
Sébastien Haller (CIV) – association football
Jamal Murray (CAN) – basketball
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) – tennisurl=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/laureus-world-sports-awards-winners-listtitle=Simone Biles among Laureus World Sports Awards winnerspublisher=NBC Sportsdate=22 April 2024access-date=22 April 2024archive-date=22 April 2024archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422195008/https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/laureus-world-sports-awards-winners-listurl-status=live}}
2025[[File:Rebeca Andrade in 2023.jpg100pxalt=Rebeca Andrade]]BRAGymnasticsCaeleb Dressel (USA) – swimming
Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) – alpine skiing
Marc Márquez (ESP) – MotoGP
Rishabh Pant (IND) – cricket
Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – swimming

Statistics

:Statistics are correct as of 2025 awards.

CountryWinnersNominationsUSAGBRBRAITASUIGERESPCANCROBELNZLRSAAUTDOMUKRDENAUSFRANEDSWEJPNARGENGINDCHNCIVCZEETHEuropeKENMUSNORRUSSCOSLOSUI
534
314
23
23
20
15
15
14
13
12
12
12
11
10
10
10
010
05
04
04
03
02
02
02
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
SportWinnersNominationsTennisAthleticsGolfFootballRugby unionGymnasticsAlpine skiingSwimmingMotoGPAuto racingSnowboardingBoxingSkateboardingBasketballCyclingAmerican footballCricketIce hockeyBadmintonBaseballDivingFigure skatingFreestyle wrestlingJudoPara-snowboardingRowingRugby leagueSailingSurfingTriathlonWeightlifting
88
220
216
29
25
22
19
18
13
12
12
11
11
04
04
03
03
03
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01
01

References

References

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  2. Lewis, Aimee. (15 February 2017). "Usain Bolt and Simone Biles dominate at 'Sport's Oscars'". [[CNN]].
  3. (15 February 2017). "Nico Rosberg mit dem Sport-Oscar geehrt". [[Die Welt]].
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