Yorkshire’s Medal Haul at Paris 2024: Full List of White Rose Heroes

The 2024 Paris Olympics may not have been as golden as London 2012 for Yorkshire, but it still saw the county’s athletes secure an impressive medal tally. Yorkshire athletes, renowned for their sporting prowess, made significant contributions to Team GB’s overall performance, albeit with a more pronounced shift towards bronze and silver this time around.

With a total of four golds, two silvers, and nine bronzes, Yorkshire once again proved its strength on the world stage, maintaining its reputation as a sporting powerhouse.

Yorkshire Medal Winners

Yorkshire’s Gold Medal Triumphs

Yorkshire celebrated four gold medals in Paris, with the standout performances coming from seasoned and rising stars alike.

Tom Pidcock from Leeds continued his dominance in mountain biking, securing his second consecutive Olympic gold in the men’s cross-country event. Despite facing a challenging course and a 40-second deficit due to a puncture, Pidcock showcased his resilience and tactical brilliance, overtaking the home favourite, Victor Koretzky, to claim victory.

Katy Marchant, also from Leeds, marked her return to the Olympics in style, winning gold in the women’s team sprint alongside Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane. Marchant, who had taken a break from cycling after the birth of her son, returned with renewed determination, leading her team to victory in a world record time.

Georgie Brayshaw from Leeds delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the Games in the women’s quad sculls. Her crew managed to overtake the Dutch boat in the final moments of the race, clinching gold in a nail-biting photo finish. Brayshaw’s journey is particularly inspiring, having overcome a near-paralysing horse riding accident as a teenager.

Lastly, Bryony Page, originally from Sheffield but now living in the south, capped off her third Olympic appearance with a gold medal in the trampoline event. After winning silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo, Page finally achieved her golden moment in Paris, showcasing the persistence and evolution of her career.

Silver Medals: So Close to Gold

Yorkshire athletes claimed two silver medals, both of which were tinged with a sense of what might have been.

The men’s team pursuit cycling event saw Charlie Tanfield from Great Ayton and Ollie Wood from Wakefield push their team to the final, only to be narrowly beaten by Australia. Having experienced heartbreak in Tokyo, where they failed to medal, the silver in Paris represented both redemption and frustration for the talented duo.

In taekwondo, Caden Cunningham from Huddersfield emerged as one of the breakout stars of the Games. Competing in the men’s +87kg category, Cunningham fought valiantly, coming within a few points of winning gold. His silver medal marks him as a rising star to watch in future competitions.

Bronze Medals: A Bronze Age for Yorkshire

The Paris Games saw Yorkshire athletes win an impressive nine bronze medals across a variety of sports.

The diving events were particularly fruitful, with Yasmin Harper of Sheffield taking bronze in the women’s 3m synchro alongside Scarlett Mew Jensen. Leeds-based divers Lois Toulson and the pair of Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding added to the tally with bronzes in the 10m synchro and men’s 3m synchro, respectively.

Scarborough’s Lottie Fry continued her equestrian success from Tokyo by winning two bronzes in Paris, first in the team dressage alongside Becky Moody of Gunthwaite, and then in the individual dressage event. Fry’s consistency in the sport is a testament to her dedication and skill.

Harry Hepworth from Leeds made his mark in gymnastics by securing bronze in the vault final, a significant achievement for the young gymnast on his Olympic debut.

The triathlon events also contributed to the bronze tally, with Beth Potter—originally from Scotland but now based in Leeds—winning individual bronze and then teaming up with York’s Sam Dickinson to earn another bronze in the mixed team relay.

Finally, the 4x100m relay team, featuring Sheffield’s Louie Hinchliffe and Middlesbrough’s Richard Kilty, rounded off the bronze medals for Yorkshire, demonstrating the county’s enduring strength in track events.

Beyond the Medals: Notable Performances

While medals are the ultimate goal, several Yorkshire athletes delivered remarkable performances that fell just short of the podium. Max Litchfield from Pontefract narrowly missed out on a medal for the third consecutive Games, finishing fourth in the 400m individual medley but breaking the British record in the process. Emile Cairess from Bradford impressed in the marathon, finishing fourth in gruelling conditions that were far from ideal for the Yorkshireman. In diving, Sheffield’s Jordan Houlden delivered a solid performance to finish fifth, highlighting the depth of talent in Yorkshire’s sporting ranks.

Yorkshire’s Roll of Honour at Paris 2024

• Gold:
  • Tom Pidcock, Leeds, Mountain Bike
  • Georgie Brayshaw, Leeds, Quad Sculls
  • Bryony Page, Sheffield, Trampoline
  • Katy Marchant, Leeds, Team Sprint
• Silver:
  • Charlie Tanfield, Great Ayton, and Ollie Wood, Wakefield, Team Pursuit
  • Caden Cunningham, Huddersfield, Taekwondo +87kg
• Bronze:
  • Yasmin Harper, Sheffield, 3m Synchro
  • Lois Toulson, Huddersfield, 10m Synchro
  • Beth Potter, Leeds, Triathlon
  • Jack Laugher, Harrogate, and Anthony Harding, Leeds, 3m Synchro
  • Lottie Fry, Scarborough, and Becky Moody, Gunthwaite, Dressage Team
  • Lottie Fry, Scarborough, Individual Dressage
  • Harry Hepworth, Leeds, Gymnastics Vault
  • Sam Dickinson, York, and Beth Potter, Triathlon Relay
  • Louie Hinchliffe, Sheffield, and Richard Kilty, Middlesbrough, 4x100m Relay

Yorkshire’s athletes once again proved their mettle at the Olympics, demonstrating a blend of experience and emerging talent that will undoubtedly continue to shine in future Games. While Paris 2024 may not have matched the heights of London 2012, the achievements of these athletes ensure that Yorkshire remains a vital part of Team GB’s Olympic success story.