A Countdown of the Top 10 Sporting Events of 2024

10. Australian Open Tennis (January 14-28)

Kicking off our countdown is the Australian Open, which set the tone for the 2024 tennis season. This year’s tournament in Melbourne was nothing short of spectacular. Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, was unexpectedly defeated in the semifinals by Jannik Sinner. Sinner’s victory didn’t stop there; he went on to win his first Grand Slam title by defeating Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set final. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her title, dominating the competition without dropping a set, and overcoming Zheng Qinwen in the final.

9. Winter X-Games (January 26-28)

At number nine, the Winter X-Games in Aspen, Colorado, offered a breathtaking display of extreme winter sports. This year’s event saw standout performances across various disciplines. In Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe, Chloe Kim continued her dominance with a stunning score of 96.33, while in the Men’s SuperPipe, Scotty James took the gold with a score of 93.00.

The event was full of high-flying tricks and intense competition, including Troy Podmilsak’s victory in Men’s Ski Big Air and Eileen Gu’s exceptional performance in Women’s Ski SuperPipe. The Winter X-Games once again proved to be a must-watch event for fans of extreme sports and provided thrilling betting opportunities at Galera Bet.

8. Kentucky Derby (May 4)

The Kentucky Derby, held on May 4th, takes the eighth spot in our countdown. This year’s race was particularly memorable, with Mystik Dan winning in a dramatic three-way photo finish at 18:1 odds. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. skillfully guided Mystik Dan to victory, narrowly beating out Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose. This marked the first nose-margin victory in the Kentucky Derby since 1996 and the first three-horse photo finish since 1947.

7. Monaco Grand Prix (May 26)

At number seven, the Monaco Grand Prix delivered all the glamour and excitement we’ve come to expect from this iconic Formula 1 race. The 2024 edition was particularly special as Charles Leclerc, the Monégasque driver, won his home Grand Prix for the first time. Leclerc’s victory was historic, making him the first Monégasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix as part of the Formula 1 World Championship. The race was also notable for its unusual outcome, with the top ten drivers finishing in the same order they started.

6. America’s Cup Sailing (October 12-20)

Looking ahead, the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain, is sure to be a highlight of the sporting calendar. As the biggest event in sailing, the America’s Cup will see teams from around the world compete in a series of races that test their skill, strategy, and technological innovation. Team New Zealand, the current holders of the Cup, will be defending their title against a host of international challengers.

5. T20 World Cup (June 4-30)

Cricket fans were treated to an exciting month during the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies. This year’s tournament featured 20 teams, including first-time participants Canada and Uganda. England, the defending champions, were knocked out in the semifinals by India. India eventually won their second T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a nail-biting final.

4. Tour de France Femmes (August 12-18)

The Tour de France Femmes takes the fourth spot in our countdown. This year’s race was a thrilling contest, with Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma clinching victory by just four seconds over defending champion Demi Vollering. Vollering, despite finishing second, was awarded the super-combativity award for her aggressive riding throughout the race. Marianne Vos once again secured the green jersey for the points classification, while Justine Ghekiere claimed the polka-dot jersey as the best climber.

3. Euro 2024 (June 14 - July 14)

Euro 2024, held in Germany, was one of the most anticipated football tournaments of the year. The competition saw 24 of Europe’s best national teams compete in a month-long festival of football. The tournament featured many memorable moments, including Germany’s elimination by Spain in the quarter-finals and Italy’s shock exit in the round of 16. Spain were the eventual champions, claiming their fourth European title by defeating England 2-1 in a thrilling final.

2. Paris Paralympic Games (August 28 - September 8)

The Paralympics have grown in significance over the years, and the 2024 edition was expected to be the most watched and celebrated yet. With 22 sports on display, including the debut of Para-badminton and Para-taekwondo, the Games showcased incredible athletic performances and inspiring stories of perseverance.

1. Paris Olympic Games (July 26 - August 11)

Topping our list, the Paris Olympic Games was the pinnacle of 2024’s sporting events. The Games brought together the world’s best athletes for two weeks of incredible competition and unforgettable moments. The United States led the medal tally with 126 total medals, followed by China with 91 and Britain with 65.

Among the standout performances were Sifan Hassan’s gold in the Women’s Marathon and the United States dominating both men’s and women’s basketball. The Games also saw the introduction of breakdancing as an Olympic sport, which added a fresh and exciting element to the competition.

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It has been a truly fantastic sporting year and at Galera Bet we have worked hard to bring you extensive betting markets and competitive odds. There is still much more to come and we promise to continue doing all we can to provide you with a premier betting experience.