Voting Opens for Prestigious BBC World Sport Star of the Year 2025: Meet the Elite Contenders

The stage is set for a truly global celebration of athletic excellence. The BBC has unveiled the shortlist for its coveted World Sport Star of the Year 2025 award, thrusting six transcendent athletes from six different sports into the spotlight. This public vote, a cornerstone of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, seeks to crown the international performer who has defined the last twelve months through sheer brilliance, resilience, and historic achievement. With voting now open, fans worldwide hold the power to decide who follows in the footsteps of 2024’s winner, the seemingly untouchable Swedish pole vault king, Armand Duplantis.

This year’s shortlist is a mesmerizing tapestry of sporting dominance, featuring athletes who haven’t just won, but have redefined the possible in their respective arenas. From the courts of tennis and basketball to the tracks, pools, and mats of elite competition, these contenders represent the pinnacle of human performance. The winner will be revealed during the must-watch live show on BBC One on Thursday, 18 December, in what promises to be a glittering climax to the sporting year.

A Pantheon of Champions: The 2025 Shortlist Unveiled

This is not merely a list of winners; it is a roll call of legends in the making. Each contender brings a narrative of relentless pursuit and groundbreaking success. Below, we dissect the credentials of the six athletes vying for this global honour. Remember, you can vote for your favourite to ensure their efforts are recognised on one of sport’s most prestigious nights.

• Novak Djokovic (Tennis): The ageless Serbian maestro silenced any remaining doubters by capturing a historic Golden Slam in 2025—winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic singles gold in a single calendar year. This unprecedented feat, achieved in his late 30s, cements his statistical and arguably spiritual claim as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). His candidacy is built on a perfect season of unparalleled dominance.
• A’ja Wilson (Basketball): The cornerstone of a new dynasty, Wilson led the Las Vegas Aces to a third consecutive WNBA championship, earning Finals MVP honours with a series of commanding performances. Simultaneously, she was the heartbeat of the USA’s gold medal-winning team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, establishing herself as the most dominant two-way force in women’s basketball on the planet.
• Mondo Duplantis (Athletics): The defending World Sport Star award winner refuses to be dethroned from the skies. The Swedish-American vaulter continued his reign by breaking his own world record not once, but twice in 2025, finally clearing the mythical 6.25m barrier. His consistent ability to make the impossible routine makes him a perennial favourite.
• Summer McIntosh (Swimming): The Canadian phenom transitioned from prodigy to absolute ruler of the pool. At the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, she executed a staggering triple, winning gold in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle, all in world-record times. Her technical mastery and race intelligence at just 19 years old have ushered in a new era for women’s distance swimming.
• Jude Bellingham (Football): The English midfielder elevated his game to stratospheric levels, driving Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double before captaining the England men’s team to their first major trophy in 59 years at the UEFA European Championship. His combination of leadership, clutch goals, and all-action style made him the most influential footballer in the world this year.
• Kōki Ueyama (Gymnastics): The Japanese artistic gymnast achieved what many thought was unattainable: a perfect sweep at the World Championships. Ueyama won gold in the all-around and every single apparatus final he entered, displaying a blend of flawless execution, supreme difficulty, and artistic grace that has not been seen for a generation.

Expert Analysis: Breaking Down the Race

From a journalistic standpoint, this shortlist presents a fascinating clash of narratives and metrics for greatness. Novak Djokovic’s Golden Slam is arguably the single greatest annual achievement in the history of individual sports—a perfect season at the highest level. Its historical weight is immense. Conversely, Mondo Duplantis represents the relentless pursuit of a quantifiable physical limit; he is not just beating competitors, he is defeating gravity and history with every record.

The case for A’ja Wilson and Jude Bellingham is built on transformative leadership within team environments. Wilson’s dominance is a constant, but leading a team to a three-peat in a league designed for parity is extraordinary. Bellingham carried the hopes of a nation to a long-awaited football triumph, a pressure few can comprehend.

The wildcards are the young sovereigns of their domains: Summer McIntosh and Kōki Ueyama. Their achievements—world record trebles and a perfect championship sweep—are demonstrations of utter supremacy. While perhaps less globally prominent than football or tennis, their 2025 campaigns were as close to perfection as their sports allow.

Predictions and the Public Vote

Predicting a winner in a public vote is as much about cultural momentum as it is about raw achievement. Djokovic’s story has a timeless, historic quality that may resonate powerfully with a global audience. Bellingham’s appeal in the football-mad UK and beyond, following England’s euphoric Euros win, cannot be underestimated and could drive a huge voter turnout.

However, one must never discount the “wow” factor of superhuman feats. Duplantis clearing 6.25m is an image that transcends sport, a moment of pure physics-defying artistry. This visual spectacle, coupled with his status as reigning champion, makes him a formidable contender to retain his crown.

Voting is open now, and the electorate is worldwide. The winner will likely be the athlete whose story cut through the noise of the sporting year most effectively, combining achievement with a compelling narrative of human endeavour.

How to Cast Your Vote and Tune In

The power to decide this prestigious award lies with you. Below you can vote for your favourite among these six phenomenal athletes. Please note: if you encounter the message “Sorry, this vote cannot be loaded,” you will need to enable JavaScript in your browser to access the voting platform and participate in this democratic celebration of sport.

All roads then lead to the grand BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The envelope will be opened, and the World Sport Star of the Year 2025 will be announced during the live show on BBC One on Thursday, 18 December. It is an unmissable night that honours the courage, skill, and dedication of athletes from across the globe.

In a year overflowing with iconic moments, this shortlist captures the very essence of world-class sport. Whether it is the perfection of Djokovic, the aerial royalty of Duplantis, the leadership of Wilson and Bellingham, or the youthful dominance of McIntosh and Ueyama, the 2025 award will honour a legend. Your vote will decide which story of greatness is immortalised. Choose wisely.

Source: Based on news from BBC Sport.