RIYADH: Saudi athletes have made their mark on the global sports scene in 2024, achieving historic milestones and reinforcing the Kingdom’s rising presence in various athletic disciplines.
Dunya Abutaleb etched her name in history as the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympics based on merit. She secured her place at the Paris Games through the Asian qualifiers and carried Saudi Arabia’s flag at the opening ceremony. Abutaleb, a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships and a gold medalist at the 2024 Asian Championships, reached a career-high fourth place in the world rankings.
In football, Salem al-Dawsari continued his dominance, leading Al Hilal to an unbeaten domestic Treble in 2023-24. The 2022 AFC Asian Player of the Year contributed to Al Hilal’s remarkable 34-match winning streak, securing another Saudi Super Cup title in August.
Mashael al-Obaidan made history as the first Saudi woman to compete in the E1 Powerboat Racing Championship, debuting with Aoki Racing Team and setting the fastest lap at the E1 Lake Como GP. A seasoned rally driver, al-Obaidan’s competitive spirit shone through in the inaugural E1 season.
Boxer Ziyad ‘Zizo’ al-Maayouf also made waves, claiming a points victory over Christian Lopez Flores in Riyadh and defending his unbeaten record. Al-Maayouf’s earlier draw with Michal Bulik in Los Angeles was revised to a win after Bulik tested positive for banned substances.
In women’s football, Al Bandari Mobarak excelled with Al Shabab, leading the team to a third-place finish in the Saudi Women’s Premier League. Mobarak, who also represented Saudi Arabia at the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship, earned Player of the Month honours in November.
Shot put athlete Mohammed Tolo set an Asian record with a 21.80m throw in Madrid and narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic final in Paris. Tolo, who had previously won silver at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, is focused on improving his global standing.
Reema Juffali made her mark in motorsport, debuting in the all-women F1 Academy series in Jeddah and later securing a podium finish in the GT4 European Championship debut in Jeddah. Juffali continues to advocate for accessibility in motorsport through her organization, Theeba Motorsport.
Omar Nada won a gold medal at the 2024 World International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Championship in California, adding to his historic bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games. Nada also clinched gold at the Saudi Games in October.
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MMA fighter Hattan Alsaif made history as Saudi Arabia’s first female fighter in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), securing three consecutive victories in her debut season, including a head kick and second-round TKO.
These historic achievements highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in international sports, with athletes across various disciplines making significant strides in 2024.
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