These athletes just added a new trophy to their collection.
Indeed, the 2025 ESPY Awards hosted by Shane Gillis in Los Angeles on July 16 saw the most famous names in the athletic world come together to celebrate the past year in sports.
Leading the nominations was Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley with three nods, which included Best Athlete: Men’s Sports. Up against him in that category? Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
And that’s not all for Ohtani who joined an elite club of athletes—including Simone Biles—who earned two nominations that night. Biles faced off against Stephen Curry, World Series MVP Freddie Freeman and golf champion Rory McIlroy in the Best Championship Performance category, with the Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast taking the win.
What’s more, the award ceremony saw a Team USA Olympic reunion with rugby player Ilona Maher and fellow “Golden Girls” gymnasts Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles also in attendance.
And the athletic prowess wasn’t only limited to those nominated. In fact, rapper Busta Rhymes joined college basketball star Flau’jae Johnson to present the first trophy of the evening.
