From world-class swimmers to record-breaking sailors, here are the top five sportspeople who have brought pride to the Island this year.
Samuel Murray and the Island’s Annie Caddick at the European Championships (Image: British Rowing) Rower Annie Caddick solidified her status as a rising star in 2024, achieving remarkable success on the international stage.
Annie began the year with a historic victory at the European Rowing Championships in Hungary, where she and teammate Samuel Murray claimed gold in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls.
The British double were in last place in the first 500m of the 2,000m course but surged past their German, French and Ukrainian rivals to claim a dramatic victory, but a margin of less than two seconds.
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Annie’s journey to becoming an elite rower started on the Island, where she developed a love for water sports, spending summers as a lifeguard and surfing with her family.
She discovered rowing while studying at the University of Birmingham, finding it to be a sport where her cerebral palsy did not limit her ability to compete equally.
With her European gold and Paralympic silver in 2024, Annie will be looking to continue her success into 2025.
In March, Zac represented Team GB at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Turkey.
He started strong, earning a bronze medal in the Open 4×100 Medley Relay, followed by a gold medal in the 4×100 T21 Medley Relay.
The highlight of the competition came on the final day, when Zac retained his 200m T21 Butterfly title, with his contributions leading to Team GB being crowned Best Team on points at the championships.
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Later in the year, Zac competed in the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Crawley, where he continued to excel.
He retained his 200m Butterfly title for the third consecutive year, setting a new record in the process.
Across the competition, Zac collected an impressive haul of medals, including three silvers in the 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, and 100m Individual Medley.
He capped off his performance with a silver in the 400m Freestyle, improving his time by ten seconds, and another silver in the 200m Individual Medley.
Competing in some of golf’s most prestigious events, the 31-year-old from Totland has showcased his talent on the global stage.
Brandon began the year with his second major appearance at the US Open in June, held at the iconic Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina.
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Although he narrowly missed the cut by a single stroke, his performance was notable as he outscored legends such as Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson.
Reflecting on the experience, Brandon described it as “epic” and was encouraged to continue building on his success.
Just a month later, Brandon made his debut at the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, finishing a respectable 59th.
Competing against some of the biggest names in golf, he made the cut with a birdie-filled opening two rounds and held his own despite challenging weekend conditions. Brandon’s strong showing earned him £40,500.
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Brandon’s form peaked in August when he claimed his first European Tour victory at the Irish Challenge.
He carded a final round of 67 to finish two strokes ahead of the competition with a score of -12.
This victory followed his Northern Ireland Open win earlier in the year, catapulting him over 400 places up the world rankings to 466th.
Brandon’s incredible achievements, supported by his family and inspired by his grandfather’s early coaching at Freshwater Bay Golf Club, mark 2024 as a breakthrough year for the Isle of Wight golfer.
As the flight controller, Leigh contributed to the team’s remarkable victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup, where they defeated the Italian team and became the first British yacht crew in over 60 years to qualify for the America’s Cup match.
Although Britannia ultimately lost the America’s Cup match 7-2, their campaign was hailed as a major success.
They became the first British team to score points in the match in 90 years, equalling Britain’s best-ever performance in the competition.
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Leigh’s contributions were pivotal in optimising Britannia’s performance, particularly during high-stakes races.
His expertise as flight controller helped the team achieve precision and speed, cementing their position as serious contenders on the global stage.
Leigh’s role in this historic journey solidified his reputation as one of the Island’s most accomplished sailors.
In June, the 34-year-old penned a two-year deal with Championship club Sunderland, joining from Coventry City.
Moore was initially signed as understudy to young keeper Anthony Patterson, offering invaluable expertise and mentoring skills, supported by his FIFA goalkeeper coaching badges.
Moore’s career journey began at Brading Town and has since seen him play across various tiers of English football, with his breakthrough coming at Brentford and later Sheffield United.
Known for his professionalism and hunger for new challenges, Moore embraced the opportunity to join Sunderland, calling it “a huge club” deserving of success.
Moore remains eager to contribute on and off the field with over 200 career appearances, claiming he still has another “five or six good years” left in him.
