As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands, Formula One)
In the 2024 season, Verstappen had 14 podium finishes out of 24 Grands Prix, including nine victories, amassing 437 points to secure his fourth consecutive World Drivers' Championship title.
This file photo taken on Nov. 24, 2024 shows Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrating claiming the title of the 2024 Formula One World Championship after the race of the 2024 Formula One U.S. Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit in Las Vegas, the United States. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/Xinhua)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
2. Beatrice Chebet (Kenya, athletics)
Chebet broke the women's 10,000m world record with 28 minutes and 54.14 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic in May, becoming the first female to finish 10,000m within 29 minutes on a track. She won gold medals in 5,000m and 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This file photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows gold medalist Beatrice Chebet of Kenya posing during the awarding ceremony for the women's 5000m of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
3. Mijain Lopez Nunez (Cuba, wrestling)
At the Paris Olympics, six-time Olympian Lopez defeated Chile's Yasmani Acosta Fernandez 6-0 in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 130kg final, becoming the first male wrestler to take five Olympic gold medals in a row in the same event.
This file photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows gold medalist Mijain Lopez Nunez of Cuba celebrating during the awarding ceremony for the men's greco-roman 130kg of wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
4. Simone Biles (United States, gymnastics)
Withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics, Biles was back to the top at the Paris Olympics, racking up three gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and team events, plus one silver medal in floor exercise.
This file photo taken on Aug. 1, 2024 shows gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States posing after the awarding ceremony for the women's all-around of artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
5. Arisa Trew (Australia, skateboarding)
Trew captured the women's vert and park gold medals at the 2024 X Games in June, becoming the first female skateboarder to defend both titles at the annual tournament. She also secured gold in the women's park event at the Paris Olympics in August and vert event at the World Skateboarding Championship in September. Moreover, she was honored with the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year in 2024.
This file photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows Arisa Trew of Australia reacting during the women's park final of skateboarding at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
6. Armand Duplantis (Sweden, athletics)
Duplantis broke the men's pole vault world record three times in 2024. At the Diamond League in Xiamen in April, he raised his own record to 6.24 meters, and improved it by one centimeter for the Olympic gold in Paris. Duplantis' new mark of 6.26m at the Silesia Diamond League Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in August was the 10th time he has broken the world record.
This file photo taken on Aug. 5, 2024 shows Armand Duplantis of Sweden reacting during the men's pole vault final of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
7. Zheng Qinwen (China, tennis)
Zheng became the first Asian player to win an Olympic singles gold at the Paris Olympics. She finished runner-up at the Australian Open for her best Grand Slam result. The 22-year-old was also a finalist at the WTA Wuhan Open and WTA Finals. In the WTA 2024 Fan Awards, Zheng became the winner of Fan Favorite Singles and WTA 250 Best Moment.
This file photo taken on Aug. 3, 2024 shows gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China attending the awarding ceremony for the women's singles of tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
8. Novak Djokovic (Serbia, tennis)
Djokovic, a five-time Olympian, won the men's singles gold at the Paris Olympics, becoming Serbia's first Olympic tennis champion and completing his Career Golden Slam of all four major titles and Olympic gold medal. In April, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time. At the French Open in June, he achieved his 370th Grand Slam match win, becoming the first player to reach this milestone.
This file photo taken on Aug. 4, 2024 shows gold medalist Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrating during the awarding ceremony for the men's singles of tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
9. Leon Marchand (France, swimming)
Marchand won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, in the men's 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley, while breaking the Olympic record four times. After the Olympics, the 22-year-old Frenchman continued to excel by claiming nine gold medals at the World Cups.
This file photo taken on Aug. 11, 2024 shows Torchbearer Leon Marchand of France carrying the Olympic flame in a lantern during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the world's top 10 athletes in 2024:
10. Vinicius Junior (Brazil, football)
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player 2024 in December, becoming the first winner born after 2000. The Brazilian scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, helping Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles in the 2023-24 season. He was also named the Champions League Player of the Season, and selected in the Champions League Team of the Season.
This file photo taken on Dec. 18, 2024 shows Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid posing with his player of the tournament award during the podium ceremony after the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 final match between Spain's Real Madrid and Mexico's CF Pachuca at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)
