Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the reigning World 100m champion, was crowned the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year at the esteemed 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris.
The ceremony, held at the Pavillon Vendome, gathered all eight award winners, esteemed members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, previous Laureus winners, and numerous renowned athletes.
Fraser-Pryce’s remarkable achievement included clinching a record-breaking fifth 100m gold at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, an impressive feat thirteen years after her initial triumph. Her collection of world sprint titles surpasses that of any other athlete, and in 2022, she ran the 100m in under 10.7 seconds an incredible seven times, surpassing the previous record for a female sprinter in a single calendar year by three instances.
“I was thrilled to be nominated alongside such inspiring women athletes, and to win this award, voted for by some of the greatest sportsmen and women of all time, is just amazing,” said Fraser-Pryce. “This is the sixth time I’ve been nominated in this category, so to finally hold the Laureus statuette in my hands is one of the greatest honours of my career.
“When athletes have the spotlight, it’s important the example we set is the best it can be,” she added. “We have a responsibility to influence the next generation in a positive way and that’s what the Laureus Awards are all about.”
Among the other notable winners was football star Lionel Messi, who earned the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman award.
The nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are determined by the international media, while the final selection of winners is made by the 71 members of the esteemed Laureus World Sports Academy. These members consist of legendary sporting figures who have exemplified athletic excellence over the past five decades, making them the ultimate jury for this prestigious accolade.
The 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards served as a celebration of the finest athletes of 2022 and paid tribute to some of the greatest sports icons of all time. Additionally, the event commemorated the mission that Laureus has championed since its establishment in 2000, when its first patron, Nelson Mandela, delivered a powerful speech emphasizing the transformative power of sports. Mandela famously stated that sports possess the ability to change the world, inspire individuals, and foster unity among people like few other forces can. This enduring vision continues to propel Laureus in all of its endeavors.
