Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: AFP
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9:50 AM, December 30, 2023
Before a year of sporting events begins in 2024, Europe 1 has selected ten athletes who have made headlines in 2023, whether through debunked records, confirmation of potential or a personal story.
Olympic Games, European Football Championship, African Cup of Nations and not to forget the essentials such as Roland-Garros, the VI Nations Tournament or even the Tour de France… The sports planet is preparing to vibrate in 2024. But before we enter the next dives Europe 1, this year’s very rich sports calendar, invites you to relive various events of the year 2023 through ten athletes whose achievements have made the news.
Victor Wembanyama, prodigy of the orange ball
If there were an official title of French Sportsman of the Year, Victor Wembanyama would have had a good chance of seeing his name engraved on the trophy. Chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in first place during the prestigious NBA draft, a first for a tricolor, the young basketball player caused almost unprecedented excitement across the Atlantic. He is almost twenty years old (he celebrates this on January 4) and seems to be on the verge of becoming one of the big stars of his sport.
Photo credit: STEPH CHAMBERS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
His debut in the NBA, very encouraging despite the series of defeats his team has suffered, only confirmed the immense potential of this 2.22 meter tall giant. However, some have criticized him for not participating in the Basketball World Cup, which he skipped to focus on the NBA season.
Antoine Dupont: the unfortunate soldier
Photo credit: MATTHIEU MIRVILLE / DPPI VIA AFP
Max Verstappen: records in chaos
Dutch Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen did not simply win a third world title in a row this season. He also shattered a series of records, some of which seemed difficult to achieve. Continued domination and competition reduced to nothing, resulting in staggering figures compiled by our journalist in this article.
Photo credit: Jewel SAMAD / AFP
Novak Djokovic: a king clinging to his throne
Léon Marchand: the new terror of the ponds
He does not play a sport that is particularly accustomed to the spotlight, but he is perhaps the French athlete who has shone the most individually over the past year. At just 21 years old, Léon Marchand has invited himself to the table of swimming giants and will be one of the main assets of the French delegation at the Olympic Games in Paris. In Fukuoka, Japan, he not only won three new world titles. Most importantly, he debunked American legend Michael Phelps’ record in the 400-meter individual medley. A real achievement.
The Lebrun brothers, on their way to glory
If swimming is not always the focus of attention, what can we say about table tennis, which we rediscover during the Olympic Games, or almost every four years. And yet the discipline has a French duo in its ranks that could shake up the hierarchy within a few months in Paris. The youngest, Félix Lebrun, 17 years old, already occupies 8th place in the world and distinguished himself last summer by triumphing at the European Games in Krakow. The eldest Alexis, 20 years old and 23rd in the world, had reached the semi-finals of the competition. What the general public did not know a year ago, the siblings will be one of the main assets of the French delegation in the race for medals next summer.
Photo credit: HERVIO JEAN-MARIE / KMSP / KMSP VIA AFP
Simone Biles, triumphant return
She was one of those who pushed the issue of mental health among athletes into the public debate. At the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Simone Biles shortened her Games, citing the need to “focus on herself” with enormous pressure on her shoulders given her status as a superstar in the discipline. After a few months of complete break with top sport, the 26-year-old American made a resounding return at the World Championships in Antwerp by winning four gold medals and a silver medal. The storm warning has already been issued in Paris: the Simone Biles tornado is about to appear again.
Jonas Vingegaard, a tour de force and questions
A year after his first victory in the Tour de France, Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard did it again last summer. A second success in a row, achieved under the nose of his main rival, Tadej Pogačar, whose competition will be definitively excluded on the evening of the 16th stage. A dazzling time trial that, however, challenged certain observers and raised some doubts about the rider’s cleanliness, which in turn dismissed any suspicion of doping.
Photo credit: Etienne GARNIER / POOL / AFP
Clarisse Agbégnénou, again on the roof of the world
However, the year had started poorly for the French judoka, in conflict with her federation due to a dispute between her personal equipment supplier (Mizuno) and that of the FFJ (Adidas). Clarisse Agbégnénou, deprived of a coach at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, will wash away the insult three months later by winning his sixth world title in Doha, Qatar. Less success, on the other hand, during the last European Championship with a modest 7th place, which cannot dampen the hopes that the French delegation has in view of the Paris Games.
Jennifer Hermoso, the kicker in the anthill
She is the one who brought down the boss of Spanish football. In the wake of title of world champion, won with La Roja, Jennifer Hermoso is the victim of a forced kiss by Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, during the medal ceremony. An episode that provoked a boycott of the selection by the players and a powerful wave of indignation on the other side of the Pyrenees. Initially, the 46-year-old leader, who was attacked from all sides, including from the government world, denounced “false feminism” and categorically ruled out the possibility of resigning, but he finally handed over his apron on September 11th.
