2024 reminded us why sports captivate and inspire people worldwide. Here’s a detailed look at eight of the most impactful events that defined the year.
The Paris Olympics 2024 showcased the best of sportsmanship and athletic achievement. The event proved to be one of the most entertaining as it offered countless moments of inspiration, from romantic proposals to overcoming challenges. Notable athletes included Leon Marchand, Simone Biles, Carlos Yulo, Noah Lyles, Imane Khelif and Novak Djokovic, who have achieved historic milestones for themselves and their countries.
The U.S. topped the medal tally for the fourth consecutive Summer Oympics with 40 gold medals. China tied on gold but finished second with fewer silver.
This Olympic also offered iconic viral moments, such as the selfie taken by the tennis table players from North Korea and South Korea, the main character aura of Kim Ye-ji and Yusuf Dikec during the shooting competition, or the hilarious breakdancing performance of Australia’s Raygun that got the Internet talking for months after the event.
Real Madrid solidified their reputation as Europe’s most successful football club by winning their 15th UEFA Champions League title. In the final against Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid won 2-0 thanks to goals from Dani Cavarjal and Vinicius Junior.
In the 2023–2024 season, Real Madrid achieved remarkable success by securing five major titles, equaling their best-ever yearly performance. Besides the Champions League, they also won the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup.
Spain returned to the pinnacle of European football by winning Euro 2024 in Germany, defeating England 2-1 in a dramatic final.
Spain’s victory marked their first major title since 2012 and was seen as a turning point for La Roja after a decade of rebuilding and transitioning. Manager Luis de la Fuente earned praise for blending experienced players with emerging talent, signaling a potential new golden era for Spanish football.
Rafael Nadal officially retired from professional tennis after representing Spain one last time in the Davis Cup. The 22-time Grand Slam champion ended his career in front of an adoring home crowd on Oct. 10, reflecting on his journey, marked by unmatched tenacity and sportsmanship.
Nadal’s decision to retire came after battling recurring injuries in recent years, which limited his appearances in the major tournaments. His farewell speech was filled with gratitude toward his fans, family and fellow players, concluding the career of one of the greatest tennis players in history with 22 Grand Slam titles over 23 years.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win over Vinicius Junior sparked debates among football fans and pundits. While Rodri’s role in Manchester City’s successful season and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph made him a deserving candidate, many believed Vinicius’s individual brilliance and decisive performances for Real Madrid was more deserving of the award.
Critics also questioned whether Rodri’s defensive midfield role gave him enough influence compared to the attacking contributions of other nominees.
Upon receiving the news that Rodri would take home the award instead of Vinicius like the fans and media have predicted for months, Real Madrid decided to cancel their plan of attending the tournament, despite many of their players were nominated in different categories.
The highly anticipated exhibition bout between boxing legend Mike Tyson, 58, and media star Jake Paul, 27, ended with a controversial decision win for the YouTuber-turned-boxer on Nov. 15.
While the bout shattered viewership records, with 72,300 fans coming to the AT&T Stadium in Texas and 65 million more households worldwide watching on Netflix, it was widely criticized for the state of Tyson's physical condition and the 31-year age gap between the two.
Following the fight, many observers speculated that the bout was staged despite being an officially sanctioned pro contest after Paul admitted that he was holding back against the former world heavyweight champion. The streaming of the event on Netflix was also criticized for the glitches, interruptions and buffering issues.
The sports world this year was shocked by doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, two of the sport’s brightest stars in men’s and women’s tennis.
In March 2024, Italian tennis star and world No. 1 Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, an anabolic steroid prohibited in professional sports. Although he was later concluded no fault or negligence and allowed to continue playing without suspension, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed this decision, seeking a ban of up to two years. As of December 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has not yet rendered a final verdict on the appeal.
Swiatek, a multiple Grand Slam champion and world No. 2, tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medication, in a sample collected in August 2024. She accepted a one-month suspension, which was served from Sept. 12 to Oct. 4, 2024, missing three tournaments during this period.
The two fights between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 were among the most talked-about events in boxing. In their first meeting in May, Usyk defeated Fury via unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion and securing his place in the boxing world.
Oleksandr Usyk (R) and Tyson Fury during their WBA, WBO and WBC heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday on Dec. 21, 2024. Photo by AP |
The rematch in December was also entertaining, with Fury coming back stronger after thorough preparation but falling short in a split decision that made Usyk once again the winner. This fight were also notable for introducing AI refereeing technology, the first in history of boxing.
Hoang Nguyen
