As 2024 comes to a close, the world of sports has 365 days full of moments to reflect on, many of them great ones.
But it also saw controversy over the days and months.
Let's take a look at some of sports' biggest controversial moments in 2024, starting with the Paris Olympics.
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Gold medalist Imane Kherif of Algeria stands on the podium during the medal ceremony for the final division of women's boxing in the 66 kg category at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on August 9, 2024. (MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Imane Kerif wins gold medal in Paris
The most Googled athlete of the year was at the center of controversy at the Paris Olympics. Algeria's Imane Kherif became the gold medalist in her boxing weight class despite questions about her gender eligibility.
Kerif was disqualified from competing in the 2023 International Boxing Association World Championships after IBA president Umar Kremlev said he had “XY chromosomes” associated with biological males.
However, the IOC defended Kerif and Taiwan's Lin Yuting, who also won gold in another women's weight class, despite related accusations.
Olympic committee chairman makes hopeful vow as he considers banning transgender athletes amid global outrage
“These two athletes were victims of sudden and arbitrary decisions by the IBA,” the IOC said. “Towards the end of the 2023 IBA World Championship, they were suddenly disqualified without due process.”
Kerif had never lost in Paris before winning the gold medal. Boxer Angela Carini once withdrew from a match against Kerif in Paris, saying, “One punch was too painful.''
Caitlin Clark roughed up during historic rookie season
Clark made WNBA history in her first season as a member of the Indiana Fever, headlining a rookie class that changed the landscape of women's sports, let alone women's basketball.
But this memorable rookie season wasn't without controversy, especially during her playing days.
Early in the season, Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky checked down Clark on the court, which was considered a flagrant 1 foul, and Clark became part of the national headlines.
It was a foul call because it wasn't a necessary physical play, but talk shows and the media began discussing whether the players were being too harsh on Clark after he committed a violent foul on the court, so no further calls were made. It became a thing. Even before that. Race also came up as part of the discussion.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, 22, runs onto the court during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, July 12, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Grace Hollars/IndyStar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Clark endured a lot of physical action, including hitting fellow rookie Angel Reese in the head during a layup attempt. But both Reese and Clark agreed it was just a bad basketball play at that moment.
Brooke Fleming and SJSU Women's Volleyball
In a highly controversial year for transgender athletes in women's sports, San Jose State's women's volleyball program made national headlines after it became embroiled in an on-court controversy involving transgender athlete Brooke Fleming.
The Spartans' record reflected forfeits from multiple opponents this season, and while not explicitly stated, all signs pointed to a refusal to play Fleming.
Captain Brooke Slusser has joined two lawsuits against the university, alleging that Fleming did not allow her or other players on the team to learn that he was biologically male. This has caused controversy within her own team as she actively tried to stop it.
Slusser also participated in a lawsuit against the NCAA over the board's policy on gender ideology that allows transgender athletes to participate in women's sports.
Despite internal and external controversy, San Jose State continued to play its opponents on the court and earned a bye as the No. 2 seed until the Mountain West Tournament approached.
Boise State, which lost to SJSU earlier in the season, defeated Utah State in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal matchup with the Spartans. However, they decided to forfeit again, and SJSU qualified for the conference championship trophy despite not playing a set.
Colorado State, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, defeated SJSU 3-1 to win the title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
San Jose State Spartans #3 Blair Fleming watches the third set against the Air Force Falcons on Falcon Court in the East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Webbers/Getty Images)
Bronze medal for Jordan Chiles
It was a very successful summer for Team USA's women's gymnastics team, especially as Simone Biles became the most decorated USA gymnast in history.
However, he faced considerable controversy when his Chilean teammate won bronze in the individual floor exercise.
The American coaches had asked the judges to consider the scoring of her routine, which was reflected in her final score, which earned her fourth place rather than a medal, beating Romania's Ana Barbos.
However, things changed when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Chile's appeal was over a minute old, reinstating the score and awarding Barbos the bronze medal. Chiles was therefore ordered to return it.
It was certainly emotional for 23-year-old Chiles, who claimed to have faced “racial attacks” from social media users in a lengthy statement on the matter posted on X on August 15. It was something.
The appeal of the IOC's decision continues, and Biles even said she would join efforts to re-certify Chile as a bronze medal winner.
Nick Bosa's MAGA hat
In the midst of a heated presidential election, an NFL player's decision to show clear allegiance to one of the candidates has sparked controversy in the sports world.
Bosa, the star defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, decided to interview quarterback Brock Purdy, who did a postgame interview on Sunday Night Football wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
The NFL's rulebook prohibits political messages of any kind, and Bosa was later fined $11,255 by the league for his actions.
But Bosa said it was “well worth it” to wear the hat, despite the controversy it caused on talk shows and in articles printed across the country after Donald Trump was sworn in as president-elect. Ta.
“I don't think my position on speaking about this issue will change. Obviously the people have spoken. We got what we got,” Botha said at the time.
Athletes do the “tramp dance”
Speaking of Trump, college and pro football players celebrated touchdowns and clutch plays by imitating the president-elect's dance moves during roadside rallies.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick after sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Botha, 97, celebrates. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
While this wasn't as overt an endorsement as Bossa's MAGA hat, the dance sent social media into a frenzy, whether people were fans of the move or not.
NFL players Brock Bowers, Calvin Ridley, Nick Westbrook-Ikain, Za'Darius Smith, and Malcolm Rodriguez have also been seen doing it. Bowers explained after the game why he took that action.
Bowers said he was inspired by watching UFC star Jon “Bones” Jones do it while Trump sat in the front row during his victory at Madison Square Garden in November. Explained.
“I like watching the UFC, so I thought it was cool to see that,” Bowers said.
Despite the controversy, the NFL said there was nothing wrong with the players' dance moves.
Falcons Draft Michael Penix JR.
Without the shock of the NFL Draft, will the culmination of the controversy materialize?
Washington's top quarterback prospect, Michael Penix Jr., was called up by commissioner Roger Goodell when the Falcons selected him eighth overall in April, surprising the entire football world.
The Falcons just signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million, $100 million guaranteed contract, acquiring their franchise quarterback in free agency during the draft. No one expected the Falcons to take a quarterback, especially with such a high draft pick.
The Falcons finally had to explain their draft pick, but Cousins faced questions about the awkward situation even though he has yet to play in Atlanta.
It seemed like a crazy pick at the time, but now Penix is finishing the season as the Falcons' starter, and Cousins' future in the organization is at a crossroads after a mediocre first season in Atlanta. It seems so.
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick quarterback Michael Penix Jr. holds a Falcons jersey during a press conference on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Bill Belichick won't appear at next NFL Live
When the New England Patriots and Belichick mutually parted ways, ending his 24-year run with the team on which he won six Super Bowls as head coach, it was hardly a reality.
But with Belichick back on the market looking for a new job, everyone in the football world believed Belichick would find a new home with plenty of head coaching vacancies. Well, he didn't.
The closest team to Belichick was the Falcons, who ultimately chose Raheem Morris despite meeting with the legendary coach several times during the recruiting process. The Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders have all turned their locker room leadership over to someone else, but Belichick has branched out into the sports media realm. .
Perhaps even wilder is Belichick becoming the new head football coach at the University of North Carolina, starting a brand new journey in college for the first time in his career.
'Raygun' headlines Olympics for all the wrong reasons
Breaking is a new addition to this year's Paris Olympics, and one of Australia's competitors has become a household name, but not because of a stellar performance.
Rachel Gunn, who performed under the stage name “Ray Gun'' at the Olympics, became a hot topic when she did not receive a single point for her performance. Ms Gunn, a lecturer at Macquarie University, said she had tried to be as creative as possible, but some even thought she was mocking the competition with her dancing.
Gunn qualified for the Paris Olympics after winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney and was named the Australian Breaking Association's top-ranked B-girl in 2020 and 2021.
Team Australia's B-Girl Raygun watches before competing in the B-Girls Round Robin on day 14 of the Breaking Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Place de la Concorde on August 9, 2024 in Paris, France. (Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
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But once he competed in the Olympics, Gunn admitted he was losing.
“The moment I qualified, I thought, 'Oh my God, what have I done?'” Because I knew I was going to get beat up and people were going to look at my style and what I was going to do. “I knew they wouldn't understand what I was doing,” she said.
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