Chinese para swimmer Yuyan Jiang wins prestigious Laureus Award

Chinese para swimmer Yuyan Jiang has been named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.

Yuyan was the standout performer at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, winning seven gold medals from seven events. 

She was presented with the trophy at the awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday. 

The world's most decorated gymnast Simone Biles was named the able-bodied Sportswoman of the Year, while Swedish pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis captured the men's honor at the ceremony.

Nominees are selected by the global media, with the winners chosen by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since 2000.

Yuyan was just 19 when she swept the board at last summer's Paralympic swimming events, matching the feat of Laureus Academy Member Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals in the pool at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Known as the 'Flying Fish', Yuyan made an immediate impact, setting a world record of 32.59 seconds in the 50 meters freestyle S6 event to win her first gold medal, before adding another six to her collection. 

She took up para swimming after being involved in a car accident as a child.

One of the other nominees was Yuyan's compatriot Zimo Qu, who represented China in badminton at the Paralympics.

Zimo won three gold medals at the BWF Para Badminton World Championship in Thailand and won two more gold medals at the Paralympics.

The 23-year-old took up wheelchair badminton after being diagnosed with polio as a child, and has gone on to establish himself as a generational talent, going on a 28-match winning streak in 2024 as he dominated his sport.

List of winners:

World Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles

World Sportsman of the Year: Mondo Duplantis

World Team of the Year: Real Madrid

World Breakthrough of the Year: Lamine Yamal

World Comeback of the Year: Rebeca Andrade

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Jiang Yuyan

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Tom Pidcock

Laureus Sport for Good: Kick4Life

Laureus Sporting Icon: Rafael Nadal

Laureus Lifetime Achievement: Kelly Slater