As we replicate on 2024, it has undoubtedly been a exceptional yr on this planet of athletics. From the thrill of the Paris Olympic Video games to the thrilling performances on the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and the European Championships in Rome, the yr has been full of unforgettable moments.
The key highlights have been constantly featured on the entrance pages of AW, as they’ve illustrated what an eventful yr it was for the game.
Athletics in 2024 has been outlined by the achievements of among the sport’s largest names, together with Keely Hodgkinson, Mondo Duplantis, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, whose performances made them the pure selections for our cowl stars.
All year long, we’ve additionally targeted on key occasions, reminiscent of our in-depth Olympic preview and overview, alongside a particular characteristic highlighting the highest 20 British Olympians in athletics historical past.
It’s been a yr filled with celebration, reflection, and naturally, thrilling performances and all have been captured all through the 2024 covers of AW.
January
As 2024 started, the January subject of AW set the stage for what promised to be a landmark yr for athletics and main the quilt was Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The earlier yr had been difficult for him, after struggling a second consecutive loss within the World 1500m ultimate to Josh Kerr and he confronted varied off-track points.
In an unique interview, his brother and coaching associate, Henrik, provided AW a behind-the-scenes take a look at the interior workings of Crew Ingebrigtsen.
Jakob’s 2024, nevertheless, turned out to be a yr of success, with highlights together with his victory within the Olympic 5000m ultimate and most just lately, a win on the European Cross Nation Championships.
February
For the February subject of AW, the 2022 world champion, Jake Wightman, took centre stage on the quilt, as he set his sights on reclaiming his place on the prime desk of 1500m working.
The British middle-distance runner confronted a collection of damage setbacks after his 2022 victory that hindered his skill to defend his crown. In an unique interview, he shared the dear classes he’s discovered all through the difficult interval.
With the ability to now look again on the yr, it didn’t unfold like Wightman had hoped for. He was compelled to withdraw from the Olympic Video games attributable to a hamstring damage simply days earlier than his 800m race.
In an interview with AW in October he stated: “If I’ve one other large damage or setback, I’m undecided I can come again once more as it could be my physique telling me that ‘that is it’. However I imagine that if I make these modifications now then I can get again to the place I must be.”
Jake Wightman: “If I’ve one other large damage, I’m undecided I can come again”
March
The March subject of AW had a definite really feel in comparison with the primary two covers of the yr, because it showcased a gaggle of athletes, with a selected deal with the Scottish opponents making ready to compete on residence soil on the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The final Scottish athletes who claimed World Indoor gold medals have been Tom McKean and Yvonne Murray-Mooney, each of whom appeared on this months cowl.
Nevertheless, this was quickly modified as Josh Kerr made histroy by successful the lads’s 3000m gold in Glasgow, changing into the primary British man to attain the feat.
April
After the thrill of Glasgow 2024, it was solely becoming that April’s AW cowl star was Molly Caudery, who made a serious breakthrough by claiming the ladies’s world indoor pole vault title.
In an unique interview, Caudery opened up about her coach, Scott Simpson, and the mindset that drove her to success.
It had been a formidable begin to the yr for the Cornwall native, who entered the Paris Olympic Video games with a brand new British report of 4.92m and excessive hopes for a podium end.
Sadly, her Olympic journey ended early, as she didn’t clear 4.55m within the opening rounds – lacking out on a spot within the ultimate. However there may be nonetheless rather more to return for the 24-year-old, particularly with the World Championships subsequent yr.
Might
Time was of the essence when it got here right down to the Might subject of AW, which examined the artwork of breaking limitations.
Marking the seventieth anniversary of Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute-mile, we revisited that ground-breaking achievement via his eyes, in addition to delving into numbers and why the pursuit of latest targets matter a lot on the subject of athletics.
Along with this, the month took us to Jamaica, a rustic famend for producing world-class sprinters who’re constantly setting new data and redefining the boundaries of pace.
We delved into the tradition behind Jamaica’s observe and subject dominance, uncovering the roots of its champion-making system.
June
Because the outside observe season was properly underway, the June subject of AW turned it’s focus to the upcoming European Championships in Rome 2024, providing an in-depth preview of the occasion.
Italian coach Marco Airale, who trains a number of of Britain’s main sprinters, shared his insights on the rising power of athletics in Italy, highlighting the affect of Olympic successes Marcell Jacobs and Gianmarco Tamberi. Each athletes went on to assert gold in Rome, additional cementing Italy’s observe and subject success.
This yr additionally marked the fiftieth anniversary of the European Championships being held in Rome, prompting us to revisit the 1974 occasion, chatting with Ian Thompson – the Briton who was as soon as on prime of the marathon world.
July
With the European Championships been and gone, the July subject shifted focus to the rising pleasure surrounding the Paris Olympic Video games.
To seize that power, we posed a query to the athletics neighborhood: Who would you rank as the best on the subject of athletes who’ve represented Nice Britain and Northern Eire in athletics on the Olympics?
We put the query to a panel made up of individuals from the world over of athletics – from athletes previous and current to coaches, commentators, statisticians and journalists. Collectively, they helped us compile a listing of the highest 20, which was revealed within the July subject, full with profiles of every athlete.
The entrance cowl, that includes a collage of athletes, provided a glimpse into among the names that made the checklist.
August
As Paris 2024 grew nearer, the August subject grew to become your important information to the Video games, with the quilt that includes a number of athletes we anticipated would shine on the worldwide stage.
Amongst them was Keely Hodgkinson, who would go on to win gold for Nice Britain within the 800m, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who claimed Olympic excessive soar gold after setting a brand new world report of two.10m just a few weeks earlier than.
Religion Kipyegon and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge additionally graced the quilt, each having confronted vital challenges of their preparations for Paris. In unique interviews with AW, they shared their journeys of overcoming adversity on the highway to the Video games.
September
The September subject of AW seemed again on the unforgettable moments of the Paris 2024 Video games, revisiting the highlights. Naturally, Keely Hodgkinson, was the right alternative for the entrance cowl.
Whereas her 800m victory was commanding, the 22-year-old’s journey to the highest was removed from easy. On this subject, we took an in-depth take a look at the trail that led her to Olympic glory.
We frolicked with a number of of her coaching companions from the Manchester-based M11 Monitor Membership, in addition to certainly one of her coaches, Jenny Meadows, to get some perception about what it’s prefer to work with such an amazing expertise but additionally to find the quantity of labor that goes into changing into one of the best on this planet.
October
In October we continued our deal with the thriving M11 Monitor Membership, this time that includes one other certainly one of their stars – Georgia Bell, who we named Britain’s Breakthrough Athlete of 2024.
In an unique interview, Bell mirrored on a rare yr that noticed her make histroy by successful Olympic bronze within the 1500m in Paris.
She shared her 2024 journey, which started with balancing a profession in cybersecurity alongside her athletic ambition, and ended along with her reaching full-time skilled standing. By the shut of the yr, she had turn out to be an Olympic and European medallist, in addition to the British 1500m record-holder.
November
The November subject of AW turned it’s consideration to the quickly evolving world of distance working, and it was Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich who graced the entrance cowl, following her extraordinary marathon world report in Chicago.
Chepngetich’s beautiful 2:09:56 efficiency created headlines and cut up opinion, however it additionally underlined the exceptional evolution that’s at present happening within the sport.
On this subject, we broke down the numbers behind her record-setting run and explored the reactions from the worldwide athletics neighborhood.
December
We replicate on the highlights of 2024 in athletics in our December subject, with Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis taking centre stage as our ultimate cowl star of the yr.
In an unique interview, the two-time Olympic champion opens up about his record-breaking pole vault efficiency in Paris, providing perception into the mindset and coaching that allow him to dominate his occasion.
The problem additionally reveals the winners of the AW Readers’ Selection Awards, with in-depth profiles and interviews showcasing their achievements. To find the complete checklist of award winners, you’ll want to purchase or obtain our newest subject.
You will discover all of our protection from 2024 through the Athletics Weekly archive.
From the primary ever subject in December 1945 via to the current day, present subscribers to our journal are in a position to dip into this useful resource free of charge whereas non-subscribers will pay simply £3.99 monthly for full entry.
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