This Sporting Life Ten sports stars who could stand out in 2024
The Paris Olympics and Euro 2024 will underpin next year’s sporting calendar. Here, we pick out 10 stars who are expected to shine. Sky Brown
Britain’s skateboard superstar claimed an historic bronze medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and will head to Paris as the reigning world champion in the park category.
Simone Biles
With a remarkable four world golds, including in the prestigious women’s allaround, Biles once again set her stall out as the star to watch in Paris.
Noah Lyles
The US track star dazzled in 2023, winning gold in both 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Budapest. Jude Bellingham England’s Bellingham has made a stunning start to his Real Madrid career, scoring 12 goals in his first 14 LaLiga appearances and also becoming the first player to score in each of his first four Champions League appearances for the club. A sensational platform at Euro 2024 in Germany awaits.
Sam Walters
The 6ft 6ins Walters was one of the more dependable figures in another testing rugby league season for Leeds Rhinos, so it came as a great surprise that he was allowed to leave to join rivals and reigning Super League champions Wigan.
Jannik Sinner
Speedy baseliner Sinner has been threatening to move into serious grand slam title contention for some time and the signs are that 2024 could be his year. Sinner has won two of four meetings with Novak Djokovic.
Luca Brecel
He probably will not practice and will be one of the first to write off his chances. But enigmatic Belgian Luca Brecel will return to the Crucible in April as the defending world snooker champion – and one of the few top-level current players who can boast the stamina to get to the end of the 17 gruelling days.
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe might not be in the best of moods in relation to his club career but his importance to France – and his ability to light up the game’s biggest stages – will be in evidence during Euro 2024. Moreover, Mbappe still harbours hopes of appearing as an over-age player at the Paris Olympics.
Keely Hodgkinson
So far it has been a career of so near yet so far for the
British 800 metres ace, who has had to settle for silver medals at consecutive world championships, as well as the Tokyo Olympics and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. All eyes will be on her bid to go one better in Paris.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
The all-rounder, who has landed a deal to play for Perth Scorchers in the next women’s Big Bash, will play a pivotal role when England are scheduled to head to Bangladesh in 2024 as one of the favourites to clinch the women’s T20 world title.