A summer of sport: Looking back at the Euros, Olympics, and Paralympics

2024 has provided an unforgettable summer of sport. It began routinely, with customary heartbreak for the English at their team’s death in the Euros. Then, as the summer drew to a close, it was stories of Olympic and Paralympic success that inspired the nation.

Following an underwhelming T20 World Cup, it was over to Gareth Southgate and The Three Lions to try and bring home a trophy for England.

Victory against Serbia in the opening game and two subsequent draws saw England clinch top spot in Group C, an achievement undermined by fears that the side lacked directness and attacking threat. Scoring just twice, it was clear the big names on the team sheet were underperforming, the cause of which much disputed as ever.

An early exit loomed in the round of 16, before Jude Bellingham produced an astonishing overhead kick to equalise in the dying embers against a resilient Slovakian side.

It was in the shootout that England’s individual quality shone through, each man making no mistake from the penalty spot that has long haunted England players and fans alike

In the quarter-finals, 120 minutes was not enough to separate England from Switzerland. It was in the shootout that England’s individual quality shone through, each man making no mistake from the penalty spot that has long haunted England players and fans alike.

With the scores level late on against The Netherlands in the semi-finals, in-form Ollie Watkins was the hero, driving the ball across the keeper with the strike he has perfected throughout his career.

A clash with the Spaniards then awaited Southgate’s England. Spain had proved a formidable side en route to the final. Undefeated in a group containing Italy and Croatia, the Spaniards maintained their composure in the significantly harder side of the draw, dismissing both France and Germany.

Team GB largely flourished at the Olympics, with an impressive 65 medals

As many predicted, the challenge proved one step too far for England, with Spain deservedly taking the title. Spain took the lead early in the 2nd half courtesy of Nico Williams, before English hopes were rejuvenated temporarily by a Cole Palmer leveller. But it was Mikel Oyarzabal who emerged the hero just 13 minutes later, firing Spain to a record 4 European Championships.

Just 12 days later, the Olympic Games in Paris began. Team GB largely flourished, with an impressive 65 medals.

Keely Hodgkinson was a standout performer, following in the footsteps of Dame Kelly Holmes in securing her first Gold in the 800 metres.

In the Men’s triathlon, 26-year-old Alex Yee secured Gold, striding past leader Hayden Wilde, who had a 14-second lead ahead of the final lap.

Rounding off the summer, the Paralympics too proved a success for the Brits, winning a staggering 49 golds to comfortably finish 2nd in the medal table

The Men’s Cross-Country Mountain Biking provided similar excitement, with Tom Pidcock overcoming an early puncture. The Brit caught up with the pack following the incident, squeezing past Frenchman Victor Koretzky in the final lap.

In the pool, James Guy, Tom Dean, Matt Richards, and Duncan Scott retained Gold for Team GB in the Men’s 4 X 200m relay. Further, Tom Daley and Noah Williams secured Silver in the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform, in the formers last Olympic Games.

Rounding off the summer, the Paralympics too proved a success for the Brits, winning a staggering 49 golds to comfortably finish 2nd in the medal table.

Dame Sarah Storey, Paralympic GB’s most successful athlete, was victorious in both the Women’s C5 Time Trial and the C4-5 Road Race, securing her 18th and 19th Paralympic Golds, respectively.

The summer of 2024 was an eventful summer for sport that will certainly go down in history

19-year-old Poppy Maskill performed particularly well, winning 3 golds, in the Women’s 100m Backstroke S14, the 100m Butterfly S14, as well as in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay S14.

In the Men’s Javelin Throw F13, Dan Pembroke broke the world record in retaining his title, with a 74.49m throw that broke the record by over 3 metres.

Elsewhere on the track, Hannah Cockroft won the Women’s T34 100m final and 800m finals, taking her total to 9 Paralympic Golds.

The summer of 2024 was an eventful summer for sport that will certainly go down in history.