5 of the best and worst sporting moments of 2024

Keely Hodgkinson won Olympic gold in Paris three weeks after Gareth Southgate and England suffered more European Championship heartbreak (PA) -

It has been an astonishing year of sporting drama, featuring triumphs for Britain’s Olympians in Paris, another near-miss for England’s footballers and controversy in and out of the boxing ring.

Here, the PA news agency looks back on five of the best and worst sporting moments of 2024.

BEST MOMENTS

Keely Hodgkinson wins Olympic gold

Great Britain’s Hodgkinson celebrates winning the women’s 800m final at the Paris Olympics (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

Carrying the hopes of a nation, Hodgkinson delivered in style in her 800 metres final at Stade de France. The 22-year-old led from the front and stormed down the final straight to become the first British woman to claim 800m gold since Dame Kelly Holmes in 2004. A fan in the crowd duly ‘crowned’ Hodgkinson on her lap of honour.

Andy Murray’s teary Wimbledon send-off

Sue Barker (right) and Andy Murray watch the tribute to the Scot’s career after his final match on Wimbledon’s Centre Court (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire)

The two-time former singles champion was honoured with an emotional ceremony to celebrate his career after he and brother Jamie lost in the first round of the men’s doubles. Murray was in tears after watching a montage of his most memorable moments and tributes from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams.

Lola Anderson’s emotional Olympic gold

Great Britain’s Lola Anderson (left) and Hannah Scott celebrate following the women’s quadruple sculls final at the Paris Olympics (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

A teenage Anderson had been inspired by the rowing at London 2012 and scribbled a short entry in her diary. Anderson later threw the note in the bin, only for her dad Don to return it seven years later, two months before his death from cancer in 2019. “I threw that away because I didn’t believe,” Anderson said after winning gold in the quadruple sculls with Georgina Brayshaw, Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott. “My dad saw it before I did. He saw the potential I had.”

Lewis Hamilton ends winless drought at Silverstone

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone (Matthew Vincent/PA) (PA Wire)

Hamilton said he could not stop crying after ending his 945-day winless streak in the British Grand Prix. Victory at Silverstone was Hamilton’s first since Saudi Arabia in December 2021, a week before he was denied a record eighth world title in Abu Dhabi. “There is no greater feeling than to finish at the front here,” Hamilton said.

Jodie Grinham wins Paralympic gold while seven months pregnant

Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham (left) and Nathan Macqueen celebrate winning gold in the team compound archery event at the Paris Paralympic Games (Paralympics GB handout) (PA Media)

Para-archer Jodie Grinham won bronze in the individual compound event before teaming up with Nathan Macqueen to claim gold in the mixed team compound final. To make Grinham’s double success even more impressive, she was competing while seven months pregnant. “All I wanted to do at the end was jump up and down and cry and scream and shout, but being heavily pregnant, realistically the best thing to do was crouch down and take a second and then I could give hugs and things,” Grinham said.

WORST MOMENTS

England suffer second successive European heartbreak

England manager Gareth Southgate consoles Jude Bellingham after a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

England’s wait for a first major men’s trophy since 1966 goes on after Spain condemned Gareth Southgate’s side to a second successive European Championship final defeat. Substitute Cole Palmer struck a superb equaliser to cancel out Nico Williams’ opener, but Mikel Oyarzabal slid home the winner four minutes from time.

Imane Khelif gender eligibility row

Algeria’s Imane Khelif with her medal after winning gold in the women’s welterweight category in the Paris Olympics (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won welterweight gold at the Paris Olympics, but her triumph was overshadowed by a gender eligibility row which erupted after Italy’s Angela Carini quit their bout after just 46 seconds. Khelif had been cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee, despite being banned by the International Boxing Association in 2023 for allegedly failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.

Gymnastics controversy

Gold medallist Rebeca Andrade (centre), silver medallist Simone Biles (left) and bronze medallist Jordan Chiles (right) following the women’s floor final at the Paris Olympics (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Controversy of a different kind marred the women’s floor final, where Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles finished fifth before her coaches appealed against her score, saying the starting difficulty was ranked too low. A revised score gave Chiles the bronze medal ahead of two Romanian gymnasts, whose team objected to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. CAS ruled that Chiles’ appeal had come too late and the IOC agreed, saying the medal belonged to Romanian Ana Barbosu.

Mike Tyson v Jake Paul

This is one of those situations when you lost but still won. I’m grateful for last night. No regrets to get in ring one last time.

I almost died in June. Had 8 blood transfusions. Lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won.

To…

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) November 16, 2024

The heavily-hyped contest between YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and 58-year-old two-time heavyweight champion Mike Tyson took place in front of 70,000 fans in Texas and millions more on Netflix, but predictably failed to live up to its billing. Tyson, who had not competed professionally in 19 years, was a shadow of his old self and landed just 18 punches as Paul won on points.

Rob Burrow dies

Former rugby league player Rob Burrow died in June after a long battle with motor neurone disease (Danny Lawson/PA) (PA Wire)

Former England international Rob Burrow died in June at the age of 41 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease. Burrow spent his entire career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles. He retired in 2017 and, after being diagnosed with MND, raised millions alongside former team-mate Kevin Sinfield to help build a new care centre for patients.