Teenage skateboarding sensation Arisa Trew has become the sole Australian to be honoured at world sport’s biggest awards gala alongside Novak Djokovic.
The 14-year-old from the Gold Coast, who is eyeing off a spot at the Paris Olympics, was named action sportsperson of the year at the lavish Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid after becoming the first female skater to land a 720 – two full rotations in midair – in competition.
Trew pulled off the epic feat last year when she was only 13, more than 30 years after skating great and her “idol” Tony Hawk first landed it in 1985.
“It’s a really big achievement for me because I didn’t really think I would even be here,” Trew said after arriving at the ceremony with her skateboard on the red carpet and performing a few tricks.
Hawk was also in the audience in Madrid, increasing Trew’s excitement.
“He’s one of my idols and then when I landed it in front of him I was just so happy because he invented the trick,” she said.
“I look up to Tony Hawk so much. I was pretty close to landing it for a while and I knew at the comp I wanted to try it. He helped me, gave me some tips, so it was really cool because he’s one of my idols.”
Trew was honoured among some of the biggest names in world sport.
Djokovic was named world sportsman of the year, while champion US gymnast Simone Biles was awarded the comeback of the year.
2024 Laureus winners
World sportswoman of the year: Aitana Bonmatí
World sportsman of the year: Novak Djokovic
World team of the year: Spain women’s football team
World breakthrough of the year: Jude Bellingham
World comeback of the year: Simone Biles
World sportsperson of the year with a disability: Diede de Groot
World action sportsperson of the year: Arisa Trew