Mondo Duplantis, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden have been nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards.
All four were recognized for their stellar seasons last year with each capping their campaigns with world championships in Tokyo last September.
The finalists were revealed on Tuesday, with a 1,300-member panel narrowing six categories of six nominees who will find out on April 20 if they will be selected for the top honor.
Duplantis, who set four pole vault world records 2025 and went undefeated in competition, won last year’s Laureus Sportsman award. He defended his world title in dramatic fashion, clearing 6.30m to surpass his own world record and grab the gold. In November he was named World Athletics male athlete of the year.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin-Levrone, Kipyegon and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden make up three of the six Sportswoman nominees, in a group that also includes swimmer Katie Ledecky, tennis player Aryna Sabalenka and soccer player Aitana Bonmatí.
McLaughlin-Levrone won the women’s 400m world championship last year grabbed gold as apart of Team USA’s women’s 4x400m relay squad and later given World Athletics female athlete of the year honors.
Jefferson-Wooden had a flawless season in 2025 that culminated in an impressive trio of world titles in the women’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay for Team USA.
Kipyegon had a daring start to the season last year as she attempted to be the first woman to break four minutes in the mile. At the Prefontaine Classic last July, she lowered her own world record in the 1,500m to 3:48.68. Months later she won her record-breaking fourth 1,500m world title in Tokyo.
Yulimar Rojas, the world triple jump record-holder was nominated for the Comeback of the Year Award after battling a torn left Achilles tendon in 2024 but returned to to action in 2025 and won bronze in the world championships.
Mountain runner Kilian Jornet also received a nominated in the World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award category.
2026 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year nominees
Mondo Duplantis, track and field
Carlos Alcaraz, tennis
Jannik Sinner, tennis
Ousmane Dembélé, soccer
Tadej Pogačar, cycling
Marc Márquez, motorcycling
2026 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year nominees
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, track and field
Faith Kipyegon, track and field
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, track and field
Katie Ledecky, swimming
Aryna Sabalenka, tennis
Aitana Bonmatí, soccer
