ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
2026
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
GERMANY · TENNIS
Alexander Zverev is the 2026 Roland Garros champion and the 2021 Olympic gold medalist. At 29, he has captured 25 ATP titles, including seven Masters 1000 crowns and two ATP Finals trophies. Instead of the typical deified sports superstar, Zverev's story is a testament to a fully lived life — to authenticity, a sharp sense of humor, kindness, and almost unbelievable resilience. In 2022, a brutal fall that tore several ligaments threatened to derail his career. What followed was a remarkable comeback: from that low point, to a heartbreakingly narrow loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final, to another final at the 2025 Australian Open against Jannik Sinner, and finally to a triumphant title run in 2026. Win or lose, he is deeply respected by his peers.In 2022, Zverev also opened up about living with Type 1 diabetes, and audiences were struck by how this tennis star must constantly manage his glucose levels in such a demanding endurance sport. He has since founded the Alexander Zverev Foundation, dedicated to supporting children with diabetes. （Photo : Corinne Dubreuil / Abacapress / Imago )
MIKHAIL SHAIDOROV
KAZAKHSTAN · FIGURE SKATING
Mikhail Shaidorov has rewritten the history books of Kazakhstani figure skating. In February 2026, he became the first figure skater from Kazakhstan ever to win an Olympic gold medal, and only the second Kazakhstani athlete to claim Winter Olympic gold. His golden moment capped a historic rise that began with a silver medal at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships along with gold at the 2025 Four Continents Championships. Off the ice, Shaidorov has handled a difficult off-season with remarkable composure, navigating public discussions around delayed salary payments and contract issues with the federation while staying focused on training and even pledging to donate his unpaid salary to children's charities. His grace under pressure makes him every bit the champion his medals suggest.
RAFAEL JÓDAR
SPAIN · TENNIS
Spanish tennis sensation Jódar has experienced a meteoric rise in 2026, climbing from outside the top 100 to a career-high ranking of No. 34. Making his Masters 1000 debut at Miami, he secured his maiden Masters-level wins before capturing his first ATP title in Morocco. His standout performance came at the Madrid Open, where he defeated world No. 8 Alex de Minaur and reached his first Masters quarterfinal, becoming the first teenager to reach that stage in Rome and Madrid in the same season since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
KAORI SAKAMOTO
JAPAN · FIGURE SKATING
Kaori Sakamoto is a four-time World Champion and four-time Olympic medalist — the first woman since Michelle Kwan to claim four world titles. She holds the world records for Program Component Scores in both the short program and free skate.Revered as a skater's skater, Kaori is celebrated for her explosive speed, deep edges, and extraordinary ice coverage. Having maintained elite status for over a decade, she has fundamentally reshaped the conversation around longevity in women's figure skating.Warm, candid, and brimming with energy, Kaori defies the familiar archetypes of women's skating: she is neither the fairy nor the femme fatale. Her big smile and unguarded emotions are as much a signature as her skating. Fun fact: Kaori is also the undisputed queen of the post-gala group selfie. (Photo: LINGE/Athletic Atelier)
AMBER GLENN
USA · FIGURE SKATING
Amber Glenn is a 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist. At age 26, she became the oldest woman to represent the United States in Olympic Figure Skating since 1928, as well as the first openly queer woman to represent the United States in Olympic singles figure skating. More remarkably, she is one of only two skaters to execute a triple Axel in both the women's short and free programs, achieving the highest grade of execution (GOE) of 2.40. Off-ice, Glenn is also a vocal advocate for mental health. Fun fact: Glenn received a video message of support from Madonna during the 2026 Olympics.
ELENA RYBAKINA
KAZAKHSTAN · TENNIS
Elena Rybakina defeated two-time Australian Open champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Australian Open title. The win lifted her back to world No. 3, the culmination of a steady rise from No. 13 over the past seven months. Off-court, she gives back to the next generation, including hosting a master class for kids in Almaty, Kazakhstan in September 2025. (Photo: Hameltion / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0)
2025
STAN WAWRINKA
SWITZERLAND · TENNIS
Stan Wawrinka announced that 2026 will be his last year on tour. The Swiss player has won 16 tour-level titles, including three major trophies—all against the Big Three—and rose to a career-high No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. As The Guardian noted, 'There will never be another single-handed backhand like his, a vision of elegance and brutal violence.' (Photo: Carine06 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0)