5 athletes who had the most astounding 2024 season

5 athletes who had the most astounding 2024 season

Abigael Wafula 07:34 - 16.10.2024

The 2024 track and field season saw standout performances from a series of athletes who set records, won Olympic titles, and dominated Diamond League Meetings.

The 2024 track and field season saw world records being set, new Olympic champions being crowned and wins in the Diamond League Meetings among other milestones achieved by athletes from across the globe.

Letsile Tebogo, Mondo Duplantis, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Julien Alfred are some of the stars who managed to maximise their great form to make an impact in the world of track and field and they certainly ended their seasons with hearts full of gratitude.

Pulse Sports Kenya delves into the athletes who had the most astounding 2024 seasons, from the track to field events.

LIST: 5 athletes who had the most astounding 2024 season

1) Letsile Tebogo

The Botswanan youngster has certainly made a name for himself and earned millions from his dominant exploits on the track. Letsile Tebogo started his season impressively, claiming top honours and setting a 300m world best at the Curro Podium Final.

Earlier this season, Tebogo lost his mother, Seratiwa Tebogo, but he managed to put that setback behind and reign supreme at the Olympic Games. Winning an Olympic gold medal is always every athlete’s dream and Letsile Tebogo doing it at 21 was definitely a highlight in his career. Letsile Tebogo also propelled the Motswana 4x400m relay team to a silver medal at the Olympics, finishing second behind Team USA.

After the Olympics, the world 100m silver medallist won a series of Diamond League Meetings including Lausanne, Silesia, Rome and Zurich. He also won the 200m at the Grand Prix Lombardia before finishing second behind Kenny Bednarek at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.

2) Julien Alfred

When you hear the name Julien Alfred, you automatically think about her dominant exploits on the track this season. The St. Lucien sprinter is a threat to the dominance of Jamaicans and Americans when it comes to the 100m and 200m and this season, she was just getting started.

Julien Alfred defied all odds to claim the win in the women’s 100m at the Paris Olympic Games, beating Sha’Carri Richardson to second place. She then continued her dominant exploits to the 200m, where she finished second behind Gabby Thomas.

The 23-year-old was not done writing history for St. Lucia, winning the women’s 100m at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels to cap off her season with huge accolades. She was also celebrated back at home and it is a huge motivation for her ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

3) Emmanuel Wanyonyi

Emmanuel Wanyonyi is just getting started but oh boy, hasn’t he done enough already? The 20-year-old is the Olympic champion in the 800m and also sits comfortably in second place, tying with Wilson Kipketer in the men’s 800m overall standings.

The world 800m silver medallist has had an incredible season, breaking the 5km road world record before the time was lowered by Elliot Giles. He then went on to win the Olympic title in the men’s 800m, beating Marco Arop and Djamel Sedjati to second and third place.

Through his dominant exploits at the Olympics, Emmanuel Wanyonyi ensured that the 800m title remained in Kenya since 2008 when Wilfred Bungei claimed the crown. David Rudisha continued the winning streak in 2012 and 2016 before Emmanuel Korir won the title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

After the Olympics, Emmanuel Wanyonyi proved that he still had it in him when he threatened David Rudisha’s world record at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne. He clocked 1:41.11 for the win before claiming the Diamond League Meeting trophy in Brussels.

4) Beatrice Chebet

Beatrice Chebet has dominated the middle distances this season and she hopes to keep going next season, with the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. The double Olympic champion (5000m & 10,000m) started her season with the 5km world record on New Year's Eve.

Chebet then defended her cross-country title, a feat that has been achieved by very few athletes. At the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, she was competing against a strong Kenyan cast of Agnes Jebet, Margaret Chelimo and Emmaculate Anyango (who has since been provisionally suspended).

Beatrice Chebet then shattered the 10,000m world record in an unexpected run at the Prefontaine Classic, making her intentions clear ahead of the Paris Olympic Games. At the Olympics, she became the first Kenyan woman to win the 5000m and 10,000m titles on the Olympic stage.

The world 5000m bronze medallist then ran a solo race at the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich, targeting the 5000m world record but she missed it narrowly. She clocked 14:09.52 to win the race. Chebet closed her season with a win at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.

5) Mondo Duplantis

If showing off was a person, then that would be Mondo Duplantis. Mondo Duplantis has had one of the best seasons, starting with a world record after clearing 6.24m at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen.

The Swedish athlete then claimed top honours at the European Athletics Championships before breaking his own world record, again, at the Paris Olympic Games after clearing 6.25m. Duplantis was not done with writing history as he proceeded to break the world record at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia, jumping 6.26m.

He also beat Karsten Warholm in their 100m duel before capping off his season with another trophy at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.

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