Lausanne, Switzerland – 7 January 2026 - The International World Games Association (IWGA) is delighted to announce the 30 outstanding individual athletes and pairs nominated for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025.
Each candidate has been nominated by their respective International Federation (IF) in recognition of their exceptional achievements and significant contributions to their sport during 2025. The full list of nominees is available below and on this dedicated page.
Reflecting on the continued success and global reach of the campaign, IWGA President, José Perurena, commented:
“The World Games Athlete of the Year campaign continues to grow in strength and visibility each year, engaging fans from all corners of the world. It perfectly reflects the diversity and inclusivity that define The World Games, bringing together athletes from different cultures, disciplines, and backgrounds. I congratulate all the nominees on their remarkable achievements and wish each of them the very best of luck in the voting.”
The voting period for this prestigious award will officially open on 12 January 2026 at 12:00 GMT, inviting sports fans from around the world to take part in selecting their favourite athletes.
Voting will close on 2 February 2026 at 12:00 GMT. A halfway elimination round will take place on 26 January 2026 at 12:00 GMT, at which point only the Top 10 ranked candidates will advance to the final stage.
- Nominees for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025
- 1. Air Sport – Yuki Hashimoto (JPN)
- 2. Archery – Andrea Becerra (MEX)
- 3. Beach Handball – Gisella Bonomi (ARG)
- 4. Billiards – Gerson Martinez (PER)
- 5. Boules Sports – Mouna Beji (TUN)
- 6. Canoe – Melina Andersson (SWE)
- 7. Cheerleading – Emily Growdon and Shayla Myerscough (AUS)
- 8. DanceSport – Marius Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska (GER)
- 9. Fistball – Gabriel Heck (BRA)
- 10. Flag Football – Victoria Chavez (MEX)
- 11. Floorball – Filip Langer (CZE)
- 12. Flying Disc – Kya Wiya (AUS)
- 13. Gymnastics – Ethan McGuinness (AUS)
- 14. Ju-Jitsu – Bohdan Mochulskyi (UKR)
- 15. Kickboxing – Federica Trovalusci (ITA)
- 16. Korfball – Ying-Ting Huang (TPE)
- 17. Lacrosse – Marie McCool (USA)
- 18. Life Saving – Nina Holt (GER)
- 19. Muaythai – Laura Burgos (MEX)
- 20. Orienteering – Yannick Michiels (BEL)
- 21. Racquetball – María José Vergas (ARG)
- 22. Roller Sports – Jhoan Guzman (ESP)
- 23. Sambo – Arman Avanesyan (ARM)
- 24. Softball – Tiare Jennings (USA)
- 25. Sport Climbing – Shou Hong Chu and Jian Guo Long (CHN)
- 26. Squash – Satomi Watanabe (JPN)
- 27. Tug of War – Chia-Jung Tien (TPE)
- 28. Underwater Sports – Dengxi Long (CHN)
- 29. Wakesurf – Jett Lambert (USA)
- 30. Wushu – Loan Drouard (FRA)
Learn more about the nominees and their remarkable achievements by exploring their profiles on this page.
The World Games Athlete of the Year Award recognises exceptional athletes for their outstanding sporting performances and their contributions to the success and visibility of their sport. Athletes finishing in the Top 3 will receive a trophy, a valuable prize, and extensive promotional support.
Join us in celebrating the world’s best athletes—cast your vote and support your favourites!
Voting Rules
- Voting is conducted via The World Games website, with a maximum of one voting session per 24 hours.
- Each voting session must include two candidates:
- First choice: 2 votes
- Second choice: 1 vote
- Votes cast for only one candidate will not be counted.
- On 26 January 2026 at 12:00 GMT, the 10 highest-ranked candidates will advance to the final voting stage. At this point, all vote totals will reset to zero.
- Vote tallies will be displayed in real time throughout the campaign.
- All voters must adhere to the principles of fair play in sport. The IWGA will closely monitor the voting process, and any irregularities will be investigated. Actions contrary to the spirit of sport may result in appropriate measures.