Marc Márquez has spoken about Rafael Nadal's return to the top level in 2022, which greatly inspired him at a time when he himself was injured.
Marc Márquez is nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, which since 2000 has honored athletes who have made their mark on sport in the previous year, across all disciplines. Number 93 is in the running for the title of "Best Comeback of the Year," an accolade highlighting his return to victory in Aragon (then Misano and Australia) in 2024 after four years of injury, including three without a win.
Márquez had already been nominated in this same category in 2022, as well as in that of Sportsman of the Year in 2015 and 2020, and had won the title of Revelation of the Year in 2014. This time, he is nominated against Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, American swimmer Caeleb Dressel, Swiss alpine skier Lara Gut-Behrami, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant and Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus.
In an official interview At the ceremony, he spoke about his return to the highest level, saying that his absolute inspiration was Rafael Nadal, when the Spanish tennis player won again at the Australian Open in 2022 after his numerous injuries.
« Of course, in sport, we have a lot of feedback and there are great inspirations, but for me Rafael Nadal was a real inspiration. I remember exactly the day he played at the Australian Open and won after a lot of injuries. And I was there, at home, on the couch, with my arm completely blocked and I said to myself 'ok, I'll do it too'. There were many days, many moments, but Rafael Nadal was a great inspiration.", did he declare.
After his three victories in 2024 and his thunderous start to the 2025 season with four wins in four races, the days when the eight-time World Champion was absent from action seem a long time ago. However, between his fractured right humerus, which was re-operated on several times and required a bone graft, two episodes of double vision, a thumb operation, a cracked rib and compartment syndrome, Marc Márquez went through very turbulent years, during which he was at his lowest morally, as his mother recently recalled.
Being named "Best Comeback of the Year" would bring this period to a close, hopefully final. The results will be announced on April 10.
