Lausanne, Switzerland – 2 February 2026: The International World Games Association (IWGA) is thrilled to announce the winners of The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025, as determined by thousands of passionate fans from around the globe who voted.
The final standings of the competition are as follows:
Winner: Victoria Chavez (MEX) – Flag Football – 50,537 votes
First Runner-up: Marius Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska (GER) - DanceSport - 43,528 votes
Second Runner-up: Laura Burgos (MEX) – Muaythai - 29,753 votes
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these extraordinary athletes for their remarkable achievements in their respective sports and for inspiring fans worldwide with their dedication and skill.
We are deeply grateful to all the fans who participated in this year’s vote, supporting their favourite athletes and demonstrating the power of the global sports community.
Let’s hear from our winner Victoria Chavez from Mexico and IFAF President Pierre Trochet.
IFAF (American Football) President Mr Pierre Trochet commented, “Victoria’s achievement on the final play of the gold medal game was a thrilling end to the Flag Football tournament in Chengdu and everyone within IFAF is delighted she has achieved this additional success. It speaks volumes that sports fans around the world who were captivated by Victoria’s performances and perhaps discovered flag football for the first time chose to vote for her."
Victoria Chavez (MEX) said, “This is a dream for me. I never imagined living all of this. Two years ago, I was in a hospital bed not knowing if I would return to the field. Being here today, experiencing all of this with my team, surpasses any dream I had imagined and is a reminder that God exists and has always been with me. The most beautiful thing about representing Mexico is carrying the dream of so many hearts. Knowing that Mexico supports and backs us gives us a thousand reasons not to give up, and it is also very special to see what Mexico represents on a global level and how much other countries appreciate Mexicans.”
The final ranking is as follows:
- 1. Flag Football – Victoria Chavez (MEX) – 50,537
- 2. DanceSport – Marius Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska (GER) - 43,528
- 3. Muaythai – Laura Burgos (MEX) – 29,753
- 4. Tug of War – Chia-Jung Tien (TPE) – 24,313
- 5. Underwater Sports – Dengxi Long (CHN) - 16,227
- 6. Sambo – Arman Avanesyan (ARM) – 15,439
- 7. Fistball – Gabriel Heck (BRA) – 14,698
- 8. Gymnastics – Ethan McGuinness (AUS) – 14,408
- 9. Cheerleading – Emily Growdon and Shayla Myerscough (AUS) – 14,161
- 10. Wushu – Loan Drouard (FRA) – 14,006