Winners of the Para Sport Awards 2025 announced

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the winners of the Para Sport Awards 2025, recognising outstanding achievements and contributions to the Paralympic Movement. 

The Para Sport Award celebrates those whose efforts have contributed to strengthening the impact of Para sports worldwide and is awarded every two years. In addition to categories for summer and winter sport athletes, coaches, IPC members, and volunteers are also recognised.  

In 2025, over 200 nominations were received for the 11 categories recognising achievements during the eligibility period from 1 May 2023 to 31 March 2025. Reflecting the incredible depth and diversity of talent across the Paralympic Movement, the 11 awards have been awarded to recipients from 10 different nations, covering Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. 

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “Congratulations to the 11 exceptional winners of the Para Sport Awards. Your achievements on and off the field of play have deservedly received global recognition and are a testament to the power of Para sport to break barriers and transform lives. These awards celebrate not just excellence in performance, but leadership, advocacy, and the commitment to inclusion. Thank you for showing what is possible and for helping us build a more inclusive society through Para sport and the Paralympic Movement.” 

The winners in 2025 are: 

Best Female Summer Sports: Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland, Para athletics) 

Wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner delivered extraordinary performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, winning five golds and one silver. She also excelled at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and claimed victories in major marathons including Berlin, Chicago, London, and New York. Between 2023 and 2025, she set world records in five T53/54 distances, from 100m to the marathon.

Best Male Summer Sports: Matt Stutzman (USA, Para archery)

Four-time Paralympian Matt Stutzman, famously known as the Armless Archer, delivered a landmark performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, capturing his first gold medal in the Men's Individual Compound Open event. With a near-perfect score of 149 out of 150, he not only set a new Paralympic record but also made history as the first armless archer to win Paralympic gold.  

Best Female Winter Sports: Anna-Lena Forster (Germany, Para alpine skiing)

Sit-skier Anna-Lena Forster showcased her exceptional talent at the FIS 2023 Para Alpine Skiing World Championships, winning four gold medals and one silver. She continued her winning streak at the 2025 World Championships, claiming a gold in the slalom and silver in giant slalom.

Best Male Winter Sports: Tyler Turner (Canada, Para snowboard)

Tyler Turner capped off a stellar 2024–2025 season by claiming both the Crystal Globe trophy, awarded for winning the overall season standings, and his third consecutive world title in snowboard cross at the FIS 2025 Para Snowboard World Championships. He delivered this gold-medal performance on home snow in Canada, making the achievement all the more special.  

Rising Star Award: Ng Cheuk Yan (Hong Kong, Para swimming) 

At just 15, Yan is a rising star in Para swimming. She won medals at the 2023 World Championships, Asian Para Games, and Para Swimming World Series. Making her Paralympic debut at Paris 2024 aged 14, she became Hong Kong’s youngest Paralympic medallist with bronze in the 100m breaststroke SB6. 

Breakthrough Award: Brahim Guendouz (Algeria, Para canoe)

Brahim Guendouz achieved a groundbreaking victory at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, becoming the first African athlete to win Para canoe gold, and Algeria’s first qualifier and medallist in the sport. His journey began with a bronze at the 2023 ICF World Championships, Africa’s first in the event, and culminated in KL3 gold in 2024.

Best Team: Japan wheelchair rugby team

Japan’s wheelchair rugby team made history at Paris 2024 by winning their first-ever Paralympic gold medal, becoming the first Asian nation to achieve this feat in the sport. The victory also propelled Japan to the top of the world rankings. Their journey began with a commanding performance at the World Wheelchair Rugby Asia-Oceania Championship in October 2023, which secured their qualification for the Games. In Paris, they defeated Australia in the semi-final and went on to overcome Team USA in the final, achieving their best-ever result on the global stage.

Best Coach: Mathieu Jeanne (France, Para cycling)

Mathieu Jeanne, Head National Team Coach for the French Handisport Federation Para cycling team, led one of the most successful squads in the sport. Under his guidance, the French Para cycling team delivered a standout performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, winning a total of 28 medals, more than a third of the host nation’s total medal count. 

Community Impact Award: Paralympics New Zealand

Paralympics New Zealand’s ‘We’ll Give You Something to Talk About’ campaign for Paris 2024, challenged perceptions of Para athletes through TV and digital content, where Paralympians transformed negative comments into motivation. Reaching 3.43 million people in the country, it boosted website traffic and potential registrations eightfold. Brand affinity also soared as a result of the campaign, placing the Paralympic Team among New Zealand’s top four most loved sports brands.

IPC Member Award: Paralympics New Zealand

Paralympics New Zealand’s Paris 2024 campaign celebrated Para athletes and challenged public perceptions, encouraging Kiwis to see the athlete first, disability second. Alongside strong campaign results, Paralympic New Zealand’s Education Programme reached 406 schools, sparking meaningful conversations around disability and sport.

Volunteer Award: Sima Limouchi (Iran)

Sima Limouchi is a leading advocate for the Paralympic Movement in Iran, driving engagement through volunteerism, education, and leadership. She has inspired students, led workshops, and served as a Technical Classifier in Para table tennis. As Head of Volunteers for Iran’s National Paralympic Day, she boosted public involvement and hosted awareness seminars. Her contributions include commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with UNESCO, supporting strategic planning through the National Paralympic Committee’s Development Committee, and championing Para table tennis at the Asian Youth Para Games. She also developed inclusive sports programmes for children with disabilities.

The Para Sport Volunteer Award winner was selected through a public online vote held from 30 October to 13 November 2025.