Catherine Debrunner delighted with third Laureus nomination

Out of all six Para athletes nominated for this year’s Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, Catherine Debrunner is the only one who already has the statuette in her collection. The 2023 winner, she has been shortlisted for the second year in a row.  

“I feel super honoured to be nominated for the third time for the Laureus Sports Awards. Every nomination has been so special for me because it's the biggest stage in the world and the biggest award you can get as an athlete,” Debrunner told World Para Athletics. “Even to be nominated is simply amazing. All the nominees are incredible athletes with incredible stories, and to be part of this community is a big honour to me.”

The Laureus highlighted Debrunner’s outstanding 2025 season when announcing her latest nomination: 

“Debrunner, the 2023 winner of this Award, won five golds at the World Para Athletics Championships in India over 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m. Across the calendar year, Debrunner set world records in the 100m T53, the 400m T53, the 1500m T53/54 and the 5,000m T53/54. She now holds the world record in every distance in which she competes. But that wasn’t the end of her achievements: she also competed in the World Marathon Majors Series, winning in Tokyo and London.”

This year, she will not be the only Para athletics representative, as Kiara Rodriguez has made history as Ecuador’s first-ever nominee. But she is the one who can share the experience of receiving the award on the Laureus stage.

“That 2023 victory was very unexpected for me, as was the nomination itself. It all went really quick. I did not expect to get nominated for the biggest award, and winning it left me pretty speechless, to be honest.”

A force on the roads and on the track in 2025  💫

Catherine Debrunner - Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Nominee#Laureus26 | @Paralympics | @ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/crC9abPzYI

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 17, 2026

After three consecutive years of major Para athletics events – in which she claimed four world titles at Paris 2023, became the most successful Paralympian in her sport at the Paris 2024 Games with five golds, and added another five world titles last year in New Delhi – this season will be different, with no major world events on the calendar.

While she will maintain her training routine and target the major marathons ahead – she has already won the Tokyo Marathon in 2026 and will miss the Laureus ceremony as she competes in the Boston Marathon on Monday – this year also gives her space to reflect on her achievements and the people who have supported her throughout her journey. 

“I'm really happy and really grateful. It's a great satisfaction for all the work put in, not only by myself but by my whole team around me. I have an incredible environment that supports me, and I would never have reached all these achievements without them, in my private life but also in sport.”

The award winners will be selected by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy and announced at the gala event to be held at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on 20 April.

Catherine Debrunner’s medals 

Paralympic Games

Gold in the 400m T53 at Paris 2024

Gold in the 800m T53 at Paris 2024

Gold in the 1500m T54 at Paris 2024

Gold in the 5000m T54 at Paris 2024

Gold in the marathon T54 at Paris 2024

Gold in the 400m T53 at Tokyo 2020

Silver in the 100m T53 at Paris 2024

Bronze in the 800m T53 at Tokyo 2020 

World Para Athletics Championships

Gold in the 100m T53 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships

Gold in the 400m T53 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships

Gold in the 800m T53 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships

Gold in the 1500m T54 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships

Gold in the 5000m T54 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships

Gold in the 400m T53 at the Paris 2023 World Championships

Gold in the 800m T53 at the Paris 2023 World Championships

Gold in the 1500m T54 at the Paris 2023 World Championships

Gold in the 5000m T54 at the Paris 2023 World Championships

Gold in the 400m T53 at the Dubai 2019 World Championships

Silver in the 800m T53 at the Dubai 2019 World Championships

Silver in the 200m T53 at the Doha 2015 World Championships