Last Monday, the Principality shone even brighter from the glow of sporting brilliance converging at the SPORTEL Awards 2025. Held in the surroundings of the Grimaldi Forum on 20 October 2025, this 36th edition was more than an awards ceremony; it was a grand celebration of emotion, excellence and the universal language of sport.
Under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of
A Carpet Unfurled for Champions and Visionaries
From the moment the blue carpet rolled out, the flashbulbs captured athletes, directors, producers and creative minds, each stepping into a night where sport met storytelling. Host Marc Maury guided a packed Salle des Princes through moments of inspiration, emotion and cinematic recognition.
This was about those behind the camera as much as those in the lanes and on the tracks, those who transform athletic endeavour into unforgettable visual epics. The ceremony honours the Golden Podiums (for sports footage) and the Renaud de Laborderie Sports Book Prize (for the best publication).
Icons Beyond the Stopwatch
Marie-José Pérec: Autobiography Award Winner
With her autobiography Ma Vie Olympique, French sprint legend Marie-José Pérec was presented the Autobiography Award by Prince Albert II himself. In sporting terms, Pérec is an icon: she claimed three Olympic golds (400 m in Barcelona 1992; 200 m and 400 m in Atlanta 1996) and set a stunning Olympic time in the 400m.
Her story goes beyond the track. Born in Guadeloupe, she moved to mainland France at 16 and eventually earned a master’s degree in Sports Management. The autobiography award recognises not just the athlete, but the storyteller, the voice turning competition into narrative.
Jacky Ickx: Lifetime Sport Achievement Award
Few careers span continents of sport quite like that of Belgian motorsport legend Jacky Ickx. Known by sobriquets such as “Mr Le Mans”, “Rain Master” and “Gentleman Driver”, his achievements read like a universal ledger of speed: six wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two World Endurance Driver Championships, victory at the 1983 Paris-Dakar rally, and more than 46 endurance race wins.
The Lifetime Sport Achievement Award bestowed upon Ickx at this year’s ceremony is a recognition of a career that shaped motorsport across eras and disciplines.
Crafting the Film of Sport
The ceremony’s heartbeat lies in its film-maker awards. The Golden Podiums honoured directors and producers for capturing the raw, kinetic spirit of sport, from the thrum of a match to the hush of the starting line.
Parallel to this, the Sports Book Prize celebrated the power of the written word in sport. In 2025, Rainer W. Schlegelmilch’s Porsche racing moments captured the heart of racing history in page and image form.
A Jury Reflecting Sport’s Diversity
Presided over by legendary tennis player Henri Le Conte, this year’s jury was a rich tapestry of sporting and creative minds: from handball star Allison Pineau, Afghan Olympic-Refugee cyclist and peace ambassador Masomah Ali Zada, Guinean international footballer Lonsana Doumbouya, to sports-media veterans such as Emmanuelle Lacaze and Robert Colle.
Beyond the Ceremony: Public Moments, Deep Dives
Far from being a closed-door gala, the SPORTEL Awards accompany a vibrant public programme: discussions, signings, screenings and public appearances where fans meet legends such as freediving champion Pierre Frolla.
Powerful and Inspiring
As Marine Picoulet, Executive Director of SPORTEL Awards put it:
“The 2025 edition will stand out as one of the most powerful and inspiring. It celebrated champions, but also the artists and dreamers who make sport a universal language.”
Golden Podiums 2025: Where Sport Meets Storytelling
This year’s Golden Podiums captured the artistry behind sport, celebrating directors, producers and creators who turn athletic feats into cinematic emotion including:
Best Thematic Documentary: “Personal Best” (Videovision Entertainment / Distant Horizon)
A moving portrait of Olympic dreams and resilience, following athletes like Noah Lyles and Léon Marchand around Paris 2024.
Best Biopic: “I’m Carl Lewis!” (Noah Media Group / Olympic Channel)
A riveting look at the life and legacy of the track legend, this biopic blends archival footage and modern storytelling to reveal the man behind the medals.
Best Slow Motion: “Ilia Malinin: Relatable Awe” (NBC Sports)
An arresting visual study of the young skating prodigy’s gravity-defying jumps, showing how slow motion transforms movement into pure art.
Best Docu-Series: “Welcome to Wrexham” (NEO Studios / Boardwalk Pictures)
The hit series on Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Welsh football club continues to win hearts and awards for its storytelling about community and dreams.
Best Report: “Comme tout le monde” (WAA Ultra & TV5 Monde)
A concise, heartfelt feature exploring inclusion and everyday heroes in sport, proving that small-format storytelling can be just as powerful.
Best Advertising: “La Quête” (CANAL+)
A sleek and emotional campaign blending brand identity with the thrill of competition, showing that sports ads can be art too.
Not to mention the Peace and Sport Documentary Prize for Las Amazonas de Yaxunah
AND
Sports Book Prize Renaud de Laborderie: “Porsche Racing Moments” by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
An exquisite photographic tribute to speed and design, a perfect visual echo to the night’s homage to motor-racing legend Jacky Ickx.
