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 and first runner up.
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.”
WDSF President Mr. Shawn Tay said: “On behalf of the global DanceSport community, I would like to warmly congratulate Marius Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska on their outstanding achievement in The World Games Athlete of the Year public vote. This result is a remarkable recognition of their excellence over many years, not only as world-class athletes but also as true ambassadors of DanceSport, whose legacy has inspired generations around the world. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported them throughout the campaign. The passion of our worldwide community once again proves that DanceSport remains at the top, with strong international visibility and engagement. We look forward to continuing to showcase DanceSport and its athletes on the world stage in the years to come.”
Dancers Marius Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska commented: "We thank all the supporters for their involvement and dedication in the last few weeks. it was a phenomenal competition and a very close fight that we all felt until the end. Congratulations to all the participants, it was an honour for us to compete with you! Special congratulations goes to Dancesport, we are very proud of what we have achieved together. Only together can we grow further, that’s just the beginning! We love you,!"
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