'Front-row seats to something amazing': In 2024, the sports world, again, had unforgettable moments

Patrick Mahomes threw a walk-off pass to win the Super Bowl. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win a World Series game. Stephen Curry said “nuit, nuit” to win an Olympic basketball title in Paris, Noah Lyles won 100-meter gold by about the smallest margin possible, and Sabrina Ionescu won a WNBA Finals game with a 30-foot heave.

Depending on who you rooted for, some made you cheer, some left you crushed. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a good way: Shohei Ohtani, on the night he started baseball's 50-50 club, drove in 10 runs in a performance for the ages. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a jarring way: Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 golfer, got arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship and taken away in handcuffs to jail — where he had a sandwich and started warming up for the tee time he ended up making.

And maybe the best way to describe what we had, when all these things happened, are the words Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi used after his team beat the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary pass:

“Front-row seats," Cosmi said, "to something amazing.”

Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors' superstar sharpshooter, made his Olympic debut one to remember and saved his best for last. He hit four 3-pointers in the final minutes, each shot more dramatic than the last, to seal the U.S. win over host France for gold.

Curry's signature celebration is the “night night," where he puts his hands together at the side of his face, as if it's time to go to sleep. In Paris, he brought shirts that made it perfectly clear to the French what that meant — yes, the message written on the shirts was "nuit nuit.”

Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes did something no one has ever done: He threw a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the title game.

San Francisco kicked a field goal to open overtime of Super Bowl 58, and Mahomes had 75 yards to go to try and answer. He scrambled for eight yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive — a huge play that probably very few remember. He went 8 for 8 on passes in overtime, engineering a perfect drive.

The finale: a 3-yard toss to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs were back-to-back champions.

OK, technically, the U.S. women's rugby sevens team won the Olympic bronze medal with a kick (a conversion, they call it).

But the real moment was Alex Sedrick, running the length of the field and into history.

Sedrick got the ball with about 8 seconds left, ran through three Australia defenders and took it all the way down the field for a try that tied the game at 12-12 with no time left. Her kick won bronze for the Americans, a result that made star Ilona Maher — the undisputed face of the sport in the U.S. — an even bigger name and breathed new life into the sport in a country where it still has tons of room to grow.

In this case, let's make three games — Iowa vs. UConn, South Carolina vs. N.C. State, then South Carolina vs. Iowa for the title — one moment.

Maybe a movement is the better word.

Caitlin Clark's record-setting year, South Carolina's undefeated run to the national title, UConn's return to the Final Four, they were all part of a scintillating year for women's basketball. The WNBA saw enormous growth — Clark, its rookie of the year, helped fuel that in a big way — and more eyeballs were on the game than ever before.

Everything at an Olympics is a moment for someone; a lifetime of work typically coming down to a few seconds.

But in Paris, a few stood out more than others.

Start with Sifan Hassan, trading elbows in the stretch of the marathon to win her third distance medal — this one gold. Or Cole Hocker, looking like Forrest Gump in coming from nowhere to beat the two favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter run.

The highlight, of course, was Noah Lyles' .005-second victory in the 100-meter dash. He ran the fastest time of his life and didn't take the lead until the absolute last instant, a finish that even had commentators guessing wrong about who actually prevailed.

Of the 346,000 swings taken by batters in Major League Baseball this year, three probably jumped out more than the rest.

There was Freddie Freeman, hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to move the Los Angeles Dodgers a step closer to beating the New York Yankees and winning the title.

There was Pete Alonso, saving the season for the New York Mets with a home run to lift them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the deciding game of an NL wild-card series.

And then there was Shohei Ohtani, a night like none other in a season like none other. On the night in Miami when he joined — created, really — baseball's 50-homer, 50-steal club, he hit three home runs, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs on a 6-for-6 night.

Cleveland's Max Strus lived every kid's hoop-in-the-driveway fantasy ... down by one, time running out, let-it-fly ... a 59-footer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over Dallas.

But the buzzer-beater of the year: Take a bow, Sabrina Ionescu. From just inside of the logo, her 3-pointer with 1 second left gave the New York Liberty a win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals — and the Liberty would win the title in five games.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had a year of moments — most of them great (nine wins worldwide), one of them bizarre (the arrest at the PGA Championship).

But the signature moment of 2024 for Scheffler might have been weeping as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in honor of his Olympic golf gold medal in Paris. He rallied from six shots back with a final-round 62 to win the gold.

On the way to winning the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a save he'll never forget.

Bobrovsky — out of “desperation,” he’d say later — dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Tampa Bay's Matt Dumba’s shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley used a spin move — and a leap — on the same play. The 180-degree hurdle was one of the signature moves of 2024 in the NFL.

It made a 14-yard reception unforgettable. “Best play I've ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

They call it a “Hail Mary” in football, the desperation pass into the end zone with no time left to try and win a game.

The Wahington Commanders pulled it off against the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels' throw going into team lore. And Virginia Tech thought it had pulled one off against Miami, only to have officials — who originally said the Hokies won — overrule the call after replay review, sealing a win for the Hurricanes.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

FILE - United States' Stephen Curry (4) reacts after a three-point basket against France in the men's gold medal basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, early Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

FILE - Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd after losing against Netherlands' Botic Van De Zandschulp during a Davis Cup quarterfinal match at Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

FILE - United States' Coco Gauff kisses the trophy after defeating China's Qinwen Zheng in their women's singles final match of the WTA finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) hurdles over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

FILE - Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) catches a 52-yard touchdown pass in the end zone as time expires to give the Commanders an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run during the 10th inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu holds up the championship trophy after the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)

FILE - New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Lynx during the third quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)

FILE - New York Mets' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

FILE - South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson (5) fights for a loose ball with Iowa guard Sydney Affolter (3) and guard Kate Martin (20) during the second half of the Final Four college basketball championship game in the women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) of Japan, celebrates after hitting a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

FILE - Sha'carri Richardson, of the U.S., crosses the finish line to win the women's 4 x 100 meters relay final at the Summer Olympic Games in Saint-Denis, France, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

FILE - Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal at the end of the women's marathon competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Cole Hocker, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 1500-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

FILE - Cole Hocker, of the United States, top, celebrates after setting a new Olympic record winning the men's 1,500-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - Noah Lyles, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

FILE - Noah Lyles, of the United States, in lane seven, wins the men's 100-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, poses with her medals after the women's artistic gymnastics individual apparatus finals Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, competes during the women's artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

FILE -0 Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal at the medal ceremony during the women's artistic gymnastics individual vault finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

FILE - Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick during a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Georgia's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili celebrates with fans after a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

FILE - Scottie Scheffler is greeted by fans wearing T-shirts with Scheffler's booking photo after the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE- Scottie Scheffler walks to the tee on the 11th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

FILE - Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad raises the NHL hockey Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

FILE - Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba (24) during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

FILE - United States' Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates after winning a women's World Cup slalom skiing event in Are, Sweden, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati, File)

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. after Hardman scored the game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

FILE 0- United States' Alex Sedrick reacts after scoring the winning try during the women's bronze medal Rugby Sevens match between the United States and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Tuesday, July 30, 2024.. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Iowa's Caitlin Clark looks on during a news conference announcing the AP NCAA Women's Coach and Player of the Year Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with Patrick Mahomes (15) after scoring the game winning touchdown in overtime as San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) walks off the field during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas.(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

FILE - United States' Stephen Curry (4) celebrates after beating France to win the gold medal during a men's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A group of Gisèle Pelicot’s Australian admirers said Friday they're moved that the victim in France’s notorious drugging-and-rape case has acknowledged her distant supporters Down Under by wearing a scarf adorned with Aboriginal art.

The 72-year-old who refused to remain an anonymous victim wore the silk scarf several times during the trial in Avignon, including when 51 men were convicted and sentenced to prison for molesting her after she had been drugged by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot.

Thursday's ruling made headlines around the world, prompting reactions from thousands of individuals and political leaders alike who praised her bravery and the awareness raised by her trial of sexual violence against women.

“Shame must change sides. Thank you, Gisèle Pelicot!” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social platform X. “You courageously came out of anonymity and went public and battled for justice. You gave women worldwide a strong voice. The disgrace is always the perpetrator’s.”

“Too often, victims of sexualized violence are not believed or even given a share of the blame,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wrote on X. “Gisèle Pelicot encouraged a lot of people to fight back and to report the violence — what an admirable woman! It is not the victims but the perpetrators who should be ashamed.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Pelicot's “dignity.”

The story dominated the news in Britain, with Pelicot’s photo splashed across news websites and newspaper front pages, with headlines hailing her courage and strength.

“World’s Bravest Woman,” the Daily Mirror cover proclaimed.

The story took up all of the Guardian’s front page beneath the masthead and continued on several pages inside.

The Daily Mail devoted seven pages to the court case, and columnist Sarah Vine declared Pelicot woman of the year. “For courageously taking down her scumbag husband, she deserves everyone’s respect,” the headline said.

The scarf that Pelicot donned was a 220 Australian dollar ($137) gift from a Sydney-based rights advocacy group, the Older Women’s Network, its chief executive Yumi Lee said.

“We were astounded, absolutely gobsmacked, honored that she accepted our gesture of solidarity,” Lee said.

Lee, 59, said her group, which has 1,000 members across New South Wales state and campaigns on issues including sexual violence, raised donations to buy the scarf in September when the court case was already underway.

Members decided on the gesture because Avignon, 17,000 kilometers (11,000 miles) from Sydney, was too distant for most to travel to demonstrate their support in person, Lee said.

Pelicot "has said that shame has to change sides and she wants all the victims of sexual assault to think that if she can do it, they can too,” Lee said.

“She has also proven that sexual assault knows no barriers. Everyone from young to old are victims of sexual assault. So she’s busted that myth,” Lee added.

Lee said she was surprised that Pelicot’s lawyer wrote to her group to acknowledge receipt of the scarf.

“Her lawyer wrote to us to say she has received it and was interested in the fact that it’s a First Nations design," Lee said.

The scarf is a reproduction of the art of Indigenous painter Mulyatingki Marney. It depicts a cluster of saltwater pools, known for their healing properties, on Marney’s traditional land, the retailer One of Twelve said on its website.

The Canberra-based business showcases art from the Asia-Pacific region and pays the artists royalties from the sale of scarves and ties, as well as woven bags from Papua New Guinea called bilums.

“We picked this design because, number one, it’s beautiful, it’s got lovely colors, it’s drawn by a First Nations, older woman and it’s a story about healing,” Lee said.

One of Twelve owner Anna Saboisky said the attention Pelicot had brought to their scarf had overwhelmed the tiny business.

A second print run of scarves had almost sold out and a third was on its way, she said.

“Since I woke up this morning, I’ve had about 20 orders placed online,” Saboisky said. “We’re just a small business. It’s completely unprecedented to have so much interest in one scarf."

Lee said if Avignon had not been so far away, “we would be there shouting.”

——

This story has been corrected to give Gisèle Pelicot's age as 72.

Gisele Pelicot exits the Avignon courthouse, in southern France, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

FILE - Gisele Pelicot, who was allegedly drugged by her now former husband so that he and others could assault her, arrives at the court house wearing a scarf printed with artwork of Martu woman, Mulyatingki Marney, in Avignon, southern France, on Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)