Seven of the biggest Australian sporting moments of 2024

2024 has been a year to remember for Australian sport. From heartfelt goodbyes to the emergence of extraordinary young talent, Australia's stadiums, tracks and pools have been stages for unforgettable moments - capped off by our most successful Olympics yet. As we say goodbye to 2024, here are seven standout Australian sports stories of the year. Fox sisters win gold at the Olympics Even amid Australia's incredibly successful Olympics campaign, the Fox sisters stole the spotlight with their victories in canoe slalom. Jessica Fox carried the weight of both the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony and her legacy as a medallist from London, Rio and Tokyo. This year's Games saw her add two more gold medals to her collection, cementing her status as a legend of the sport. Better yet, the only event she didn't medal in was won by her sister, Noemie. The image of Jess leaping into the water to celebrate Noemie's victory became one of the defining moments of the Games. [caption id="attachment_57511" align="alignnone" width="2560"] PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 22: Jessica Fox of Team Australia trains ahead of the Kayak Single at Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on July 22, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)[/caption] Oscar Piastri's breakthrough Formula 1 season After finishing a commendable ninth in the overall driver standings during his Formula 1 debut last year, Oscar Piastri has truly cemented his place among the sport's elite this season. Climbing to fourth overall, Piastri claimed two victories and stood on the podium eight times. In his typically nonchalant style, the young Australian played a pivotal role in guiding McLaren to their first Constructors' Championship title, solidifying his reputation as a serious contender for future World Championship glory. [caption id="attachment_50686" align="alignnone" width="2560"] SUZUKA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 24: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 and Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL60 Mercedes line up on the front row of the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on September 24, 2023 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)[/caption] Brisbane Lions' drought-breaking premiership This year's AFL Grand Final was historic, marking the first decider since 2006 without a Victorian team. The game itself, however, lacked the drama of some of the previous contests, with the Brisbane Lions delivering a dominant 60-point thrashing over the minor premiers, the Sydney Swans. The victory not only avenged their 2023 Grand Final defeat to Collingwood but also ended a 21-year premiership drought, reestablishing the Lions as a powerhouse of the AFL. David Warner's final Test match David Warner walked out to his home ground of the SCG in January to a guard of honour for the last test match of his career. With Pakistan's total of 130 runs and two days to chase it down, Warner raced to a quick half-century. However, the fairytale ending was not to be, as he fell just 11 runs short of sealing the victory. Nevertheless, the home crowd delivered a heartfelt standing ovation, bidding Warner a fitting farewell as Smith and Labuschagne took over to complete the win. [caption id="attachment_47074" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 27: David Warner of Australia celebrates his century during day two of the Second Test match in the series between Australia and South Africa at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Emma McKeon becomes Australia's most decorated Olympian This year's Paris Olympics saw swimmer Emma McKeon add a final gold, silver and bronze to complete her haul of 14 Olympic medals. This officially cemented her as Australia's most decorated Olympian, surpassing more than 4300 athletes across 120 years. Shortly after the Games, she confirmed her retirement, reflecting on the pride she takes in her achievements and expressing excitement for the next chapter of her life. She leaves Australia's swimming legacy in excellent hands, with Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O'Callaghan and Cameron McEvoy all securing individual gold medals of their own. [caption id="attachment_57536" align="alignnone" width="2215"] NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 27: Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Emma McKeon of Team Australia celebrate after winning gold in the Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)[/caption] Penrith Panthers achieve historic four-peat Penrith's historic fourth consecutive premiership in October cemented the Panthers as the most dominant team of the modern era, achieving the first four-peat since St George's legendary 1956-66 streak. The 14-6 triumph over the Melbourne Storm was a full circle moment after being beaten by the Storm in the first of their five consecutive grand final appearances. Speaking to 2GB after the match, coach Ivan Cleary acknowledged the significance of the victory, calling it “the best one” yet. [caption id="attachment_49367" align="alignnone" width="2560"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: The Panthers players celebrate victory after winning the 2023 NRL Grand Final match between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Gout Gout's record-breaking sprint Rounding out the year, December saw teen sprinting sensation Gout Gout break Peter Norman's 200m record that stood for half a century. Competing at the All-Schools Championship in Brisbane, the 16-year-old clocked a blistering 20.04 seconds, shaving 0.02 seconds off Norman's record and surpassing Usain Bolt's under-18 mark by 0.09 seconds. The sprinting legend himself seemed to endorse Australia's rising track prodigy, commenting on an Instagram video of the teen's run: “he looks like young me.”

Seven of the biggest Australian sporting moments of 2024

From record-breaking triumphs to iconic farewells, these are the stories that defined Australian sport in 2024.

7. Gout Gout's record-breaking sprint

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