The up and coming athletics stars that made their name at Paris 2024

Athletics 02 Nov 24

Paris 2024 was as much a showcase for future British talent as it was for our long-serving stars, with a number of exciting young talents mixing it with famous medallists.

Team GB's athletes collected a total of 10 medals across track and field, ranging from Keely Hodgkinson’s heart-thumping 800m gold to a thrilling women’s 4 x 100m silver.

In a true testament to the diversity of talent in the squad, 17-year-old Phoebe Gill and 22-year-old Louie Hinchcliffe made their debuts alongside four-time Olympian Eilish McColgan, offering a glimpse of the young talent ready to spread their wings at future Games.

Excited by the prospect of yet more talent, here are some names to keep an eye on after making their Olympic debuts in Paris.

Phoebe Gill

Even Phoebe Gill couldn’t believe it when she crossed the line first at the 2024 UK Athletics Championships to book herself a spot on the 800m startline at her first Olympics.

The 17-year-old had already broken the 45-year-old European under-18 record by clocking 1:57.86 at the Belfast Irish Milers Meet to put herself firmly on the ‘one to watch’ list.

But Gill’s maiden Olympic appearance, which paralleled gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m triumph, was the proof no one needed that she is the future of British middle-distance running. The youngster was Team GB's youngest track athlete in Paris but held her own in the heats, where she demonstrated maturity beyond her years to finish in the top three to qualify for the semi-finals.

In a highly competitive pack which included Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele and France’s Renelle Lamote, Gill fought her way down the home straight, taking the outside route to romp home in a time of 1:58.83.

She finished fourth in the repechage, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final, but is living proof age is no barrier to success on the biggest sporting stage of all.

Charlie Dobson

When hurdles legend Colin Jackson was asked who could be Team GB's breakthrough athlete in Paris, he did not hesitate to sing Charlie Dobson’s praises.

It turns out the former European, World and Commonwealth gold medallist knows a thing or two about talent spotting, as Dobson enjoyed an incredible outing in the French capital.

The Essex speedster arrived with high expectations after clinching European 400m silver, knocking half a second off his PB in May before going even quicker at the London Athletics Meet when he clocked 44.23s.

The 24-year-old won his heat at Paris 2024 by a stretch to see off the rest of his field in a time of 44.96 to make it through to the semi-finals at the Stade de France in fine form.

Dobson finished fourth in his semi-final, shaving milliseconds off his heat time, proving he is more than capable of rivalling some of the world’s fastest men over the one-lap distance. “I went out and gave it everything, so I can’t not be proud of myself. It’s been a massive learning curve - it’s the Olympics, no one said it was going to be easy, but I’m over the moon with this season,” he said.

Dobson then capped off a Games to remember with bronze in the men's 4x400m relay.

Louie Hinchliffe

There’s not much that captures British hearts more than an electric personality and that’s exactly what 22-year-old Louie Hinchliffe brought to the Stade de France.

Proudly sporting a distinctive mullet and safety pin earrings, the Olympic debutant had fans enraptured even before he blazed a trail in his 100m heats.

Hinchcliffe arrived in the French capital having won the men’s 100m at the UK Athletics Championships and clocked his first legal sub-10 second time of 9.95 to win the NCAA title in Houston.

It proved the perfect foundation for his maiden Olympic outing, where he reached the semi-finals of the men’s 100m before helping Team GB to their first men’s 4 x 100m podium since Athens 2004.

The British champion’s rise to world renowned started when he reached out to nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis less than 12 months ago - now he has got an Olympic medal hanging in his bedroom. This fast-footed go-getter is definitely one to watch.

Max Burgin

Max Burgin arrived in Paris with a low profile but was quietly confident his time to shine had finally come.

The 22-year-old battled every athlete’s nightmare - repeated bouts of injury - before finishing second in a hugely competitive men’s 800m at the UK Athletics Championships to punch a ticket to his first Olympics.

He had already proven himself as a rising star, first bursting onto the scene in 2022 when he became UK Champion, later running 1:43.52 to put him fourth in the British all-time list.

The Halifax local executed the notoriously difficult men’s 800m semi-finals to qualify third fastest, becoming the first British man to make the Olympic final since London 2012 in the process.

Staying at pace with Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyo, he clocked a lifetime best of 1:43.50, but despite producing a near-replica time in the final Burgin finished eighth overall.

With an Olympic final, lifetime best and world stage debut under his belt, Burgin’s potential to continue to rise up the world rankings is uncapped.

Mahamed Mahamed

Britain’s third-fastest marathon runner of all-time Mahamed Mahamed does not know what the phrase ‘taking things slowly’ means.

In the build up to Paris, he had only ever taken part in two marathons in his life, but burst onto the scene when he clocked a time of 2:07.05 at the London Marathon to dip under the Olympic qualifying time.

The 26-year-old, who is based in Southampton, was one of two British men - Emile Cairess being the second - to finish inside the top five at the London Marathon for the first time since 1990.

As if running 26.2 miles isn’t enough of a challenge, the Paris 2024 course was deemed the toughest in Games history, but Mahamed came home 57th in a time of 2:15.19 despite grappling hip problems.

“I’m disappointed but it’s ok, there are positives too, being an Olympian is a very special feeling,” he said after the race. “It’s my third marathon, I’m still learning the process.”

After just three marathons Mahamed is the third-fastest British man ever with a debut Olympic Games under his belt and will hope to only get faster over the ultimate distance.

Sportsbeat 2024

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