The sports moments of 2024 that touched our hearts

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Getty Images (4)

Sometimes sports can really tug at our heartstrings – and 2024 had more than its share of special moments.

in baseball, Freddie FreemanWorld Series MVPreturned to the Los Angeles Dodgers to a standing ovation after leaving the team to care for his son in the intensive care unit, but the New York Mets pitcher Sean Maneya had one of the best games of his career just hours after learning of his aunt's death.

Meanwhile in basketball a broadcasting legend Dick Vitale received excellent news about his health and Lebron and Bronnie James made NBA history.

in Paris, 2024 Summer Olympic Games shed tears on and off the field starting with Celine Dion's triumphant comeback performance in the moment that left Kelly Clarkson speechless

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The 2024 ESPY Awards recognized the biggest names in sports, and some were lucky enough to take home the coveted silver statue. The ESPYs, which stand for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, kicked off on Thursday, July 11 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Serena Williams performed in the evening. Before (…)

As the calendar turns to 2025, here were the sporting moments that transcended scoring and left us all wanting more.

NHL honors the late Johnny Gaudreau

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Getty Images; Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

NHL left wing Johnny Gaudreau 2024-2025 In 2015, he was to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets before he and his brother, Matthewwho were killed by a motorist while riding a bicycle. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.

The two were in New Jersey to celebrate their sister Cathywedding, and although the news was not public at the time, Johnny's wife, Meredithwas pregnant with the couple's third child. (She gave birth in December.) They also shared a daughter, Noah, now 2, and a son, Johnny, now 9 months.

Johnny's sudden death sent shockwaves through the hockey community, prompting an outpouring of support, especially from his former teams, the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames. Both honored him when their seasons began.

Highlights from Johnny Gaudreau's Family Return to Calgary 1


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Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram. The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau made an emotional return to the town where he earned the name 'Johnny Hockey'. Johnny spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the Calgary Flames. On Tuesday, December 3, Columbus Blue Jackets – Team Johnny was (…)

In addition to team tributes and vigils at the arena, more than a dozen Columbus players attended Noah's birthday.

The entire Gaudreau family also returned to Calgary, where Johnny played nine seasons, on Dec. 3 when the team played a video tribute to their former player before the game.

Freddie Freeman cries after Dodgers honor his son

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Harry How/Getty Images

Dodgers first baseman Freeman missed two weeks of the regular season while his 3-year-old son Maximus Spent eight days in the ICU is battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

With Max home and recovering, Freddie returned to work on August 5 for a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Dodgers fans gave him a standing ovation when he stepped to the plate for the first time. A few weeks later, Max attended his first game since being hospitalized as Freddie's teammates wore #MAXSTRONG t-shirts in his honor.

“It was an amazing night,” Freddie said after the game.

Freddie Freeman and his sons in the Dodger Parade


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Courtesy of Chelsea Freeman/Instagram Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman made sure his team's World Series parade was a family affair. On Friday, Nov. 1, the MLB player was joined by his wife, Chelsea Freeman, and their three sons, Charlie, 8, Brandon, 3, and Maximus, 3, for an unforgettable celebration. “Thank you from below (…)

Cowboy cheerleaders dance without a wig after being diagnosed with alopecia

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Courtesy of DCCheerleaders/Instagram

Armani Latimer took the field at AT&T Stadium on Monday Night Football on November 9th without a wig after revealing his alopecia diagnosis on Netflix America's Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Latimer was diagnosed at age 12 and used to perform in a wig, but she explained that she now feels motivated to take it off.

“I think if I can overcome my negative self-talk and self-defeating mindset, I can help change the experience of the next 12-year-old who is diagnosed,” she said. “She can start healing early instead of waiting until she's 23 like me. There's so much societal pressure with being a woman — we don't need more.

“We can be given so many things and you don't need your hair to feel it,” she added.

Dick Vitale is cancer free

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Dominic Bindle/Getty Images

Vitale, an ESPN college basketball analyst, is known for two things: his undying enthusiasm for hoops and his work to raise money for cancer research. He himself has dealt with several battles with cancer, but announced on December 12 that he is now cancer free.

“Santa came early when Dr. Rick Brown called to say my PET SCAN came back CLEAR OF CANCER at 7am!” Vitale wrote. “OMG thank you ALL so much for your (prayers.) Yeah I'm spinning nets baby it's my national championship!”

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That's right, his announcement came two days after the Jimmy V Classic, the annual men's college basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden that benefited the V Cancer Research Foundation. Vitale was close friends with Valvano, even introducing him before the late NC State coach's legendary 1993 ESPYS speech.

Celine Dion performs at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
IOC screenshot via Getty Images

Dion performed in public for the first time since her Stiff Man Syndrome diagnosis on the biggest stage imaginable, closing out the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Performing at the base of the Eiffel Tower, Dion sang in French, performing Edith Piaf“Hymn to Love”.

The song brought Clarkson, NBC's Olympic correspondent, to tears.

“I can't actually talk,” Clarkson managed to say as they walked away Mike Tirico and Peyton Manning also shared his amazement.

Diana Taurasi's dad

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Elsa/Getty Images

Taurasi's parents, Mario and Lilianwas on the court as arguably the greatest women's basketball player ever to win her sixth Olympic gold medal. Mario, a former professional footballer himself, was seen wiping away tears following Team USA's 67-66 win over France in the gold medal game.

Competing in her final Olympics, Diana gave her dad a kiss on the forehead after the game as the family posed for photos together.

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Brony and LeBron James outfits

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Courtesy of LeBron James/Instagram

Broney's unconventional path to the NBA included health concerns before his only college season at USC and controversy as he declared for the NBA draft despite a lackluster season. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, on October 23, Brony dressed up for the first time with his father, LeBron.

They became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game, momentarily quieting critics when the two took the court together.

“That moment when we're at the scorer's table together and we check in together, I'll never forget,” LeBron said after the game. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.”

Sean Maneja dedicates the game to his late aunt

Sports moments that touched our hearts in 2024
Elsa/Getty Images

Manaea had the game of his life in Game 3 of the 2024 National League Division Series on Oct. 8 in the New York Mets' 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies just hours after learning Aunt Mabel had died.

Manaea pitched into the eighth inning that night, allowing one run on three hits. As Mets manager Carlos Mendoza removed him from the game, Fox cameras captured Manaea blowing a kiss to the sky.

“It was for my aunt,” he explained after the game. “I just got word that she passed away early this morning. This game was for her.

He continued: “Everyone back home, I love you so much. I know what's going on is hard, but we'll get through it. I love you guys.”


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