By Abigail Philip David
AFP has compiled some of the most memorable quotes that captured the essence of the sporting year 2024:
Basketball
– “That moment — us checking in together — is something I’ll never forget, no matter how old I get, how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever. I will never forget that moment.”
— LeBron James on sharing the court with his son, Bronny, marking the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game.
Boxing
– “No knock-out, no problem. I don’t think about it because we had a win.”
— Oleksandr Usyk after his split-decision victory over Tyson Fury in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999.
Cricket
– “Playing for England is the best job in the world and I’ve been privileged to do it for a long time.”
— James Anderson, England’s legendary bowler, reflecting on his 20-year career as he retired with 704 international wickets.
– “We all know she is a once-in-a-generation player. What she was able to do tonight was incredible. The world is her oyster.”
— Sophie Devine, New Zealand captain, praising Amelia Kerr after her match-winning performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup final.
– “He is the kind of player who has come on Earth to play cricket, he settles for nothing else.”
— Coach Pramod Kumar on 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player signed by an IPL franchise.
Cycling
– “Cycling has given me so much, and I love the sport. I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.”
— Mark Cavendish**, legendary sprinter, announcing his retirement.
Formula One
– “To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought was possible. It was a very challenging season.”
— Max Verstappen, celebrating his fourth Formula One title.
– “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
— Jos Verstappen, father of Max, criticizing Red Bull boss Christian Horner amidst team tensions.
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Football
– “We had to suffer. We had to suffer like animals.”
— Nico Williams, Spain winger, on their dramatic 2-1 Euro 2024 victory over England in Berlin.
– “As people, as athletes, as men, they have shown what they are worth. I cried with the boys.”
— Marco Tura, president of San Marino’s Football Federation, after their first-ever away win secured promotion in the National League.
Olympics
– “After all these years putting the mental work in, it’s paid off.”
— Simone Biles, after claiming three golds and a silver at the Paris Olympics following her battle with the ‘twisties.’
– “Everyone competing in the women’s category… is complying with competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports.”
— Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson, addressing the gender eligibility debate involving boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting.
– “I wanted to show the strength of performance and the presence of women in general, and Algerian women in particular.”
— Imane Khelif, gold medal-winning Algerian boxer.
– “I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little. It’s a fairly radical change in status.”
— Leon Marchand, French swimmer, reflecting on his newfound fame after winning four individual Olympic gold medals in Paris.
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Paralympics
– “All athletes and coaches who trained on the territory of Ukraine were always at risk of serious injuries and wounds, or death from Russian missiles and bomb drones. It was incredibly difficult.”*
— Valeriy Sushkevych, president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee, on the challenges faced by athletes during the war.
– “I try to think of it as making beauty out of ashes. Rising as a phoenix, showing the world that regardless of your circumstances, you really can do anything you put your heart and mind to.”
— Tracy Otto, US Paralympic archer, on overcoming life-altering injuries to compete.
Tennis
– “I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one.”
— Rafael Nadal, reflecting on his retirement at the Davis Cup finals.
– “You beat me — a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could.”
— Roger Federer, paying tribute to Rafael Nadal’s career.
– “After I lost my father, it has always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis. I’m proud of my family for never giving up on my dream.”
— Aryna Sabalenka, after winning the US Open.
These quotes encapsulate the triumphs, challenges, and emotions that defined 2024 in sports.
