Prince Albert II presents 2025 World Athletics Awards: Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone crowned in Monaco
Prince Albert II presented the World Athletics Awards trophies © Communication Department - Edward Wright
The Principality hosted the World Athletics Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, where the Sovereign celebrated the two best athletes in the world this year.
Monaco once again provided a prestigious setting for global athletics. On Sunday 30 November, the annual World Athletics ceremony brought together the sport’s biggest names to celebrate the exceptional performances of the 2025 season.
Swede Mondo Duplantis and American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named Athletes of the Year. The 26-year-old pole vaulter, unbeaten in all 16 of his competitions this season, set four successive world records, culminating at 6.30 m at the World Championships in Tokyo. “The entire stadium, including the other athletes on the track, would stop whenever he took up the pole. Then silence, until the eruption of joy when the bar stayed up on his third attempt,” recalls Corentin Languepin, from the French Riviera, who witnessed Armand Duplantis’ feat firsthand from the Tokyo stands in early September. “It was a scene of general jubilation, that I have rarely experienced in a stadium. He fully deserves this title of Athlete of the Year.”
American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400 m race in 47.78 seconds, a new North American record.
The Monegasque Sovereign played a central role in the gala evening by personally announcing the Female Athlete of the Year award to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who was not physically present but had recorded a message in advance. Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, presented the Male Athlete of the Year award to Mondo Duplantis.
Rising stars also recognised
The next generation was not forgotten. 17-year-old Kenyan Edmund Serem, bronze medallist in the 3 000 m steeplechase in Tokyo, and 19-year-old Chinese hammer thrower Zhang Jiale, junior world record holder, received the “Rising Stars” awards.
Australian Bruce McAvaney, iconic sports commentator, was honoured with the President’s Award for his outstanding contribution to promoting athletics worldwide.