Caitlin Clark has been named the ‘Athlete of the Year’ for 2024 by ‘Time’ magazine. Simone Biles, despite not competing at the Paris Olympics, solidified her status as the GOAT. After facing anxiety issues at the Tokyo Games in 2021, Biles made a triumphant return to win three gold medals and a silver in Paris, bringing her total Olympic medal count to 11. Her advocacy for mental health continued to resonate, as seen in the Netflix docuseries “Simone Biles: Rising.” On the other hand, Shohei Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and had a remarkable season, joining the exclusive 50-homer, 50-steal club and winning his first World Series championship. Scottie Scheffler had a stellar year in golf, clinching multiple titles and an Olympic gold medal. Jannik Sinner achieved major victories at the Australian Open and U.S. Open, solidifying his place as the world’s No. 1 tennis player.
The New York Yankees made a historic impact with their performance in 2024, solidifying their place as a standout sports moment of the year. Aaron Freeman delivered a remarkable display of skill by hitting home runs in Game 2, Game 3, and Game 4 of the World Series, earning him the prestigious title of World Series MVP.
Katie Ledecky, the talented American swimmer, showcased her exceptional abilities at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ledecky secured two gold medals in the women’s 1,500-meter and 800-meter freestyle races, adding to her collection a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle and a silver in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay. With an impressive total of 14 medals, Ledecky holds the distinction of being the most decorated American female Olympian across all sports and the most decorated female swimmer in history.
Noah Lyles, a prominent American track star, fulfilled his aspirations at the 2024 Paris Olympics by clinching the gold medal in the highly competitive 100-meter dash. Despite encountering setbacks due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, Lyles managed to secure an Olympic bronze medal in the 200-meter race, demonstrating his resilience and talent on the track.
Jayson Tatum, a standout player for the Boston Celtics, accomplished a rare feat in 2024 by winning both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year. Tatum joins an elite group of only seven other players who have achieved this remarkable dual triumph, including legendary names such as Michael Jordan (1992), Scottie Pippen (1992, 1996), LeBron James (2012), Kyrie Irving (2016), Jrue Holiday (2021, 2024), Khris Middleton (2021), and Derrick White (2024).
