The Changing of The Guard – The Future of Sports
The summer of 2024 had the potential to be a great sporting year as fans looked forward to unforgettable moments across the various global championships and tournaments. Leading into these events, the expectation of record-breaking performances was set on era-defining superstars who had entertained us all for the better part of ten years. However, 2024, more so than any other year in the new decade, saw the emergence of a new generation of athletes ready to take over.
In many ways, this summer served as a much needed reset to the sporting calendar, especially given the delayed championships of 2020 that the pandemic caused. As you’ll probably remember, the 2020 Olympic and European Championships were played in 2021 in front of limited to zero-capactiy live crowds. Part of the appeal behind these international games and championships is the community aspect, meeting people from all over the world and sharing a commonality, irrespective of your background. This characteristic of the sporting experience was missing from 2021 but was palpable in 2024, as athletes constantly praised the atmosphere coming from the capacity crowds. During the Olympics, we saw the same excitement shared by the athletes as they attended events outside theirs - notably athletes watching Simone Biles’ return following her battle with the twisties.
But as I sat down and watched all the sports on offer, it seemed there was another stark change to be noticed; it is becoming more and more obvious that the sports superstars that were so era-defining in the 2010s are now at the stage of showing decline…
In the football Twitter/X space, there too is a recognition that “our GOATs are getting old”; fans watch on anticipating elite performance from their favourite athletes only to realise that this player is now actually a detriment to the team overall.
In tennis too, we are seeing the greats start to bow out. Although Nadal hasn’t officially retired, Andy Murray’s emotional farewell to tennis is a great example of the transition that is currently happening as the generation of athletes that many of us grew up watching now fade away, and make way for the next.
In honour of the stars of yesterday and tomorrow, I am going to be taking you on a tour through the sports; celebrating the legacy of the greats, and pointing you in the direction of those to look out for…
Olympic Games
For many sports, the Olympics is the jewel in the crown for sporting achievements. My focus will be on swimming, gymnastics and track and field events.
Statistically, the most successful athlete in the modern Olympic games is Michael Phelps who won 28 medals (23 gold, three silver and three bronze). He transcended the sport like so few have before him have done. However, coming into these games the focus was on French swimmer Leon Marchand. Marchand was coached by, and competed in the same events as, Phelps. At the 2023 world championships, Marchand broke Phelps’ world record (WR) in the 400m individual medley (IM) and set Olympic records in the 200m butterfly and the 200m individual medley at the Paris Olympics. Amassing five medals at the Paris Olympics (four gold, one bronze), Marchand is on course to become this generation’s Phelps.
In the case of gymnastics, it’s been widely accepted that Simone Biles is the greatest in the history of the sport. She has 11 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals, making her the most decorated gymnast of all time; dominating the sport since the 2013 World Championships. Since the Tokyo Olympics, Biles took a brief hiatus from the sport to focus on her mental health. The Paris Games were somewhat of a redemption arc for Biles as fans watched her claim three gold and one silver Olympic medals. The question now is what’s her next move? Will she compete in the 2028 L.A. Olympics, and if so, how many events?
When you think of track and field, you probably think of Usain Bolt. The charismatic figure entertained us with his pre-race antics and post-race signature celebrations, pioneering the personality we see from athletes today. He commanded the track holding world record in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Since his retirement, athletics has been looking for a competitor to carry the sport to similar heights. It seemed that Noah Lyles would be that figure. He is divisive, playing up to the crowd at any opportunity, but, it has to be said, he doesn’t seem to have the same success as Bolt over the rest of the competition. For that, look no further than Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone, a 400m hurdler who at this point is competing with herself, becoming the first track athlete to break and set four world records.
Football
The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi defined football in the 2010s. At their peak, fans witnessed record-breaking performances as these two individuals changed the footballing landscape. In the past three seasons, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have emerged as the players ready to take the mantle away from Messi and Ronaldo. The continental championships of the Euros and Copa America allowed fans to see which players had the potential to be some of the world's best for the next ten years, while also confirming that football may have moved on from the generation of Messi and Ronaldo as the big, experienced players underwhelmed. Instead some of the best moments came from players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, giving England fans memories to cherish en route to the final. Additionally, talents like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and William Saliba were consistent in their performances. The breakout young players from the Euros were the Spanish duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Both players thrived due to their ability to take risks and seemed remarkably pressure-free as we saw Yamal (who recently tured 17 years old) awarded the best young player and Nico pick up the player of the match in the final.
Tennis
Arguably, if one sport is reflective of the GOAT era that we have been living in since the turn of the century, it is tennis. From 2000 to 2017, Serena Williams claimed almost a third of all women’s Grand Slam singles titles. Meanwhile, since 2004, the “big three” Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, have won 60 Grand Slam titles, achieving a combined win rate of 82%. Serena and Federer have since retired from competitive tennis and it looks like Nadal is close to retirement.
It seemed like Naomi Osaka was next in line to take over from Serena, however, the four time grand slam winner has been in and out of the sport due to mental health, which has impacted her ranking. The focus has now shifted to Coco Gauff, who first got recognition when she defeated her idol, Venus Willams, at Wimbledon - at the age of 15. Since then her stock has risen; making finals, winning a grand slam and flag-bearing for Team USA at the Olympics.
In the men’s game, there is one stand out player who is taking charge. At just 21, Carlos Alcaraz has won four grand slams and could be on track to replicate some of the successes of the big three.
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So what can we learn from all this? Competitive sports at the elite level is a young person's game; this transition was bound to happen at some point and it seems that time is now. The next generation aren’t just ready to take over, they’re already making their mark. This shift is refreshing and with it brings excitement as the young stars create their own legacies inspiring fans along the way.
Written by SuNom Bawa
Whatever comes to mind @sunomsimon
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