The year of 2024 has seen some colossal sporting stories across Kent.

From FA Cup giant killings to darting delight, there have been huge successes, as well as some low points across a variety of sports.

Some sportsmen and women have grabbed the headlines within the county, while others have experienced success overseas.

We take a look at four of the biggest sports stories from the last 12 months.

Backed by almost 4,500 travelling fans, Maidstone United pulled off one of the greatest shocks in FA Cup history.

The Stones, in the sixth tier of English football, beat Ipswich Town, who went on to be promoted to the Premier League, 2-1 in the fourth round of the cup.

A stunning first-half goal from Lamar Reynolds and a 66th minute winner from Sam Corne sealed the win for the Kent side.

In the fifth round, Maidstone would eventually be knocked out by Coventry City but the fans had memories to cherish for a lifetime by then.

Their league campaign ended in play-off heartbreak against Worthing last season, but Maidstone are in a promotion battle again this year and will hope that 2025 is the year they can return to the fifth tier of English football.

Rochester’s Nathan Hales won Olympic gold by setting a new Games record in the men’s trap shooting final.

The 28-year-old hit 48 shots out of 50 to break the previous record of 43 and secure GB’s first men’s trap gold since 1968.

Hales’ gold was Britain’s third of the Paris Games and the 11th medal overall.

After winning his medal, Hales said: “I cannot quite believe it! It is a dream come true and something I set out 10 years ago to achieve.”

After Emily Craig, and her rowing partner Imogen Grant, narrowly missed out on a medal at the Olympics in 2021 at the Tokyo Games, the duo responded by winning gold in the lightweight double sculls category at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Craig, from Pembury, celebrated by throwing her arms in the air as she and her partner added the Olympic title to back-to-back world and European triumphs.

There were also floods of tears and beaming smiles as they received their gold medals before heading off to celebrate with their friends and families in the stand.

Despite dropping down the PDC order of merit, Ross Smith has still experienced success over the course of the year.

Smith, from Dover, won Players Championship Event 13 and recorded an average of over 100 in his Grand Prix match, becoming only the eighth player in history to achieve the feet.

He also reached two finals on the European Tour, but lost them both to Gary Anderson and Dave Chisnall respectively.

But, his biggest success came in the Players Championship event, where he reached the semi-final before succumbing to teenager Luke Littler.

Smith, nicknamed Smudger, will be aiming to climb the rankings and add more trophies to his collection in 2025.

Sadly, one trophy he won’t be winning is the World Championships. Smith lost to Filipino Paolo Nebrida 3-0 in the second round before Christmas.

Barry Hawkins, from Ditton, had to go via qualifiers to reach the televised stages of the UK Snooker Championship.

He defied the odds with victories over defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, David Gilbert, Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen.

But, Hawkins fell to an agonising defeat to Judd Trump. He fought back from 9-6 to 9-8 and almost got the two snookers he required in a dramatic 18th frame to force a decider.

Hawkins, who reclaimed his place in the top 16 and gained a spot at the Masters thanks to his run, said: “If someone had told me I’d get to the final, I’d have taken it. Once I was in the final, you want to win. It was a great game. I’ve lost to the best player in the world.”