Arisa Trew, a 14-year-old skateboarding sensation with her sights set on the Olympics in Paris, has become the sole Australian to be honored at world sport’s biggest awards gala.
While Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati were being saluted as world sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the Laureus Awards on Monday (Tuesday AEST), the Gold Coast youngster was thrilled to be named action sportsperson of the year at the lavish ceremony in Madrid.
Trew was honored for her pioneering feat at the age of just 13 last year, when she became the first female skater to land a 720 — two full rotations in mid-air — in competition. She pulled off the iconic maneuver, first performed by skating great Tony Hawk in 1985 at the American great’s own event — and he was there to applaud Trew as she made history.
Subsequently, the young Queenslander became the first female in X Games history to win the park and vert ‘double’ and is now firmly on course to wear green and gold at the Olympics in Paris later this year.
“It’s a really big achievement for me because I didn’t really think I would even be here,” Trew said, after making a splash on Monday by arriving at the ceremony with her skateboard on the red carpet.
Other stars of the show included Women’s World Cup winner Bonmati, recognized as the outstanding player during Spain’s 2023 tournament triumph in Australia. She also picked up the team of the year award on behalf of her colleagues.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady handed Djokovic his fifth Laureus award for the world No.1 tennis player’s landmark 2023 season. The Serbian equalled Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 grand slam titles with wins at the Australian, French and US Opens, as well as reaching the Wimbledon final.
Gymnast Simone Biles won comeback of the year after her four gold medals at last year’s world championships, her first international event since competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham was the winner of the world breakthrough of the year after his stellar season at Real Madrid – the first footballer to take that accolade.
The Laureus Awards nominees were selected by the world’s media, with the winners determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. They have been presented since 2000.
