A look at players nominated for Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award

Published at :March 15, 2024 at 8:56 PM

Modified at :March 15, 2024 at 8:57 PM

(Courtesy : TOI)

The award will be presented on April 22.

With the announcement of the nominations for the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards, the anticipation for the award ceremony in Madrid on April 22 is mounting.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, established in 2000, honour outstanding sporting achievements across various annual categories. The nominees are selected by the 1,300 members of the Laureus Global Media Panel.

In addition to the main categories, the Laureus World Comeback of the Year will be presented. The award honours individuals or teams for their achievement in showcasing a comeback performance in the world of sports.

In sports, public memory can be fleeting, with past achievements often fading more quickly than a bowl of strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. Athletes can attest to the challenges of making comebacks, frequently due to factors outside their control.

Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Republic, Tennis)

Vondrousova’s inclusion in the Comeback of the Year is all thanks to her rebound from a wrist injury in 2022 to win Wimbledon in the summer of 2023. She is the first unseeded woman in the Open Era to win the title at the All-England Club. Vondrousova upset World No. 6 Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 to win her maiden Grand Slam title.

It has been a remarkable journey for the 24-year-old, who spent the better part of 2022 recovering from wrist surgery and wearing a cast, to reach a career-high World No. 6 ranking in 2023. Billie Jean King was present to witness the Czech player’s victory, seated in the royal box alongside nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova.

Simone Biles (USA, Artistic gymnastics)

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles made a triumphant return to competition after a two-year break to focus on her mental health. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Biles became the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games. In her comeback at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, she impressively clinched four gold medals.

Simone Biles was among the numerous gymnasts and female athletes affected by the misconduct of former national team doctor Larry Nassar. She, along with other athletes, openly criticized USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee for their inadequate handling of the case.

Simone previously won the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire, football)

Sébastien Haller’s remarkable journey culminated in a celebratory moment for the Ivory Coast as he led the national team to their third Africa Cup of Nations title. After an 18-month battle with testicular cancer, Haller scored a decisive late goal against Nigeria in the final on February 12.

The Borussia Dortmund forward netted the winning goal in the 81st minute, securing a 2-1 victory for the hosts. His teammate Franck Kessié had earlier scored the equalizer in the 62nd minute. This victory marked the Ivory Coast’s third triumph at the AFCON tournament

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Great Britain, Athletics)

Katarina Johnson-Thompson captured the heptathlon gold medal in Doha in 2019. However, her success was soon overshadowed by an Achilles tendon injury at the end of 2020. This was followed by a calf muscle tear at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which dashed her hopes for a medal at the event.

Despite these challenges, Johnson-Thompson secured a heptathlon gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, marking a significant comeback in her career. Her victory at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham proved to be a turning point, propelling her back to the top of the podium.

Siya Kolisi (South Africa, Rugby)

Siya Kolisi capped an impressive comeback from the injury he sustained against Munster in April 2023. Although the Sharks emerged victorious, Kolisi suffered a ligament tear. Kolisi, the first captain of colour of the Springboks, led the team to their second consecutive Rugby World Cup title in France the previous year. Defying all odds, the captain returned to the field in just four months, leading the national team to the Rugby World Cup title in October, securing their fourth overall Webb Ellis Cup.

Both Siya Kolisi and the Springboks have been nominated for the Laureus Awards. Kolisi is in the running in the Comeback of the Year category and the Springboks for the Team of the Year award.

Jamal Murray (Canada, Basketball)

Jamal Murray, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, was drafted to the team in 2016. Murray sat out the 2021-22 NBA season due to a torn ligament and was out of action for 18 months. On his return to the basketball court, he chipped in with 14 points to help the Nuggets win the NBA Championships for the first time in their 47-year history.

In the NBA Finals on June 12, 2023, the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 4-1. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokić was the top scorer for the Nuggets with 28 points and 16 rebounds.

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