2024 SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS

2024 was another season of stories, from the racetracks to the football fields. Take a look back with me at my top four highlights of the year that was.

 The Bandage Debacle: The theatre that ensued following a Tuesday trackwork gallop.

On what looked like a perfect spring morning at Moonee Valley Racecourse for the annual Breakfast with the Best to welcome in Cox Plate week, disaster struck. As spectators sipped on their morning coffee, Chris Waller’s star mare, Via Sistina, was out on the track for her last piece of work ahead of the big race. Rounding the corner, she fumbles once; a bandage begins to slip, and then in the blink of an eye, the mare trips, and James McDonald is sitting on the turf thinking he just waved his chances of a third Cox Plate goodbye. Thankfully, both the horse and jockey pulled up well and were ready to race on following a quiet week, and it’s safe to say the team pulled the right rein. The ultimate fairytale ending: Via Sistina pulling through and romping home to set a new record, James McDonald recording his 100th career Group 1 win and taking home his third Cox Plate, and of course, yet another tearful post-race interview from Chris Waller.

 Australia’s Greatest Games: 

As Australia claimed our first-ever gold medal in the women’s pole vault event during the Paris Olympic Games, history was made twice with Nina Kennedy’s result toppling us over to take home our new personal best of 18 gold medals. New ground was broken for the Aussie in Paris, with our first gold medals in the Cycling Women Time Trial; the girls made it four on the trot in the 4×100 Freestyle relay as well as setting an Olympic record, and of course, Jess Fox becoming the most decorated canoe slalom athlete in Olympic history. The story of the Fox sisters in and of itself was incredible. Aside from Jess making history, the way she jumped in the water to celebrate the first Olympic win of her sister Noemie, as well as the unbridled support of their parents, running along the banks to cheer their girls on, was nothing short of beautiful.

 Tasmania is Getting an AFL Team—Finally…:

After a debate with Warner Brothers around the trademarking of the name “Tassie Devils,” our mate’s way south has finally been gifted a team to call their own. We have a name, we have Guernsey, and we have over 200,000 founding members; give them a stadium and a football and bring on 2028!

Alexa Leary – The Nation’s Daughter:

Alexa Leary, not so long ago, was told that she would never walk or talk again, her parents being told to say goodbye multiple times with her parents turning off her life support only for their soldier to continue powering through. To overcome a traumatic brain injury in such a short period of time is a feat within itself, but to go to her first Paralympic Games and perform at such an elite level is beyond outstanding and has to be my sporting highlight of the year. From 111 days in the hospital to breaking world records and dancing atop of the podium, Lex has become the daughter of the nation.