2023 dished up some unforgettable feats, records, and history-makers when it came to women’s sport. Sportswomen blazed the trail, raised the roof, and set the standard of what should be the norm when it comes to women’s sports. Now with that said, 2024 will have to at follow suit, and by the looks of it, it’s shaping up to be another entertaining year of women’s sports events.
gsport takes a look at a selection of big events we can look forward to where women will again be at the forefront of sport.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics; 26 July 2024 – 11 August
The Games need very little introduction as for many participants it’s the pinnacle of their sports. South Africa will have a fair amount of representation with the South African Women’s Hockey team, the Springbok Women’s Sevens team, and star artistic gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz who will also be hoping to win a prestigious medal in Paris.
In the lesser-known sports, rower Courtney Westley booked her place and will compete in the Women’s Single Sculls. Staying in the water, canoeists Esti Olivier and Helen Jansen van Vuuren qualified for South Africa when they were crowned African champions in the K2 500 at the African Championships. While South Africa’s golden girl in the pool Tatjana Schoenmaker will be hoping for another sensational performance at the Games after her medal haul in Tokyo in 2020.
Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics; 28 August – 8 September
When it comes to the Paralympics, it’s one competition where South Africa is always on the medals table. At the Tokyo Games in 2020, Team SA picked up seven medals including four gold.
Anruné Weyers was the only woman to win gold four years ago and no doubt SASCOC will be keen to make sure that number increases in Paris in just over six months.
Football: Women’s African Cup of Nations; Date TBC
Banyana Banyana will be looking to successfully defend their title at this year’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Desiree Ellis’ team secured a famous victory back in 2022 and will be buoyed by their success in 2023.
At this stage, no date has been given for the tournament that will be held in Morocco, like in 2022. Reports suggest that the tournament could begin on 10 August 2024.
Cricket: Proteas Women Tour to Australia; 27 January – 18 February
The Proteas Women will start their year off in Australia, where they will play in a three-match T20 series, a three-match ODI series as well as a once-off test against the Aussies which starts on 15 February 2024. South Africa will be in a confident mood as they head down early next year. Laura Wolvaardt and her team sealed an emphatic series win over Bangladesh, which included their record 216-run victory in the final ODI.
The inbound Sri Lankan tour featuring three T20’s followed by three ODIs follow in March and April. The year’s big feature will be the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup tournament, to be hosted in Bangladesh between September and October 2024, with Australia appearing as defending champions alongside pre-qualified teams England, India, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Pakistan, and tournament hosts, Bangladesh.
Running: Two Oceans Marathon (13 April) and Comrades Marathon (9 July)
South Africa’s two stand-out running events start with the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon on 13 April, and if you intended to run but don’t already have a ticket, it’s too late – already sold out! Among South Africa’s most-loved road races, its breathtaking course highlights include Chapman’s Peak, Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Constantia and Newlands.
The 2024 Comrades Marathon, this year an up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, will be run on Sunday, 9 June 2024. To qualify, ultra athletes must complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes, or a 56km ultra-marathon in under 6 hours and 45 minutes.
Cycling: Tour de France Femmes; 12 – 18 August
A race that only started in 2022 is slowly gaining popularity among female cyclists. Our very own Ashley Moolman-Pasio finished in a respectable 6th place in the 2023 event. The race is identical to that of the Tour de France when it comes to race classification the yellow jersey for the general classification, the green jersey for the points classification, the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification, and the white jersey for the young rider (under 23) classification.
The route was revealed in late October and it will be a little bit different in 2024 to accommodate the Olympics and Paralympic Games. The peloton of the world’s women’s cycling elite will gather in Rotterdam for the event’s first Grand Départ from abroad on 12 August 2024. The race takes place over eight stages and will cover a distance of 946 kilometres as the overall finish will be at the Alpe d’Huez resort on 18 August 2024.
Stock photo caption: 2023 dished up some unforgettable feats, records and history-makers when it came to women’s sport. Sportswomen blazed the trail, raised the roof, and set the standard of what should be the norm when it comes to women’s sports. Now with that said, 2024 will have to at follow suit, and by the looks of it, it’s shaping up to be another entertaining year of women’s sports events. Photo: Envato
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