Dominica’s Thea LaFond had a golden 2024. She was one of a handful of athletes who won the World Indoors in March, and then followed it up with an Olympic title at the Games in Paris.

That night, the entire population of her native Dominica could have fitted inside the Stade de France. Her gold at the Games was the island nation’s first of any colour in any Olympic sport, just as her World Indoor title was their first medal of any colour at those Championships.

Having moved to the United States at the age of five, Thea describes how hard it was to adapt to a different kind of life. Dance, and later track and field, helped her with that transition. She remembers trying the Triple Jump for the first time, taking off and doing three ballet-style leaps with straight legs before the coach told her that wasn’t the way to do it!

Thea has remained a child of both countries, and is rightly proud of everything she’s achieved wearing the vest of Dominica. She was their only representative at the Glasgow World Indoor Championships, and then part of a team of just four athletes in Paris.

Thea explains how she had the best season of her life just as she was turning thirty, and how the death of her friend and inspiration, Dr Carissa F. Etienne, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization, was a catalyst for that. Thea jumped all season with a yellow ribbon in her hair to remember her fellow Dominican, and says it gave her ‘an extra pair of wings’.

Thea tells us about those times when she considered giving up the sport. She worked for six years as a teacher, and was a largely self-funded and part-time athlete during that period.

Find out how she won both of 2024’s golds despite carrying a knee injury through the season, and how she won in Glasgow and Paris with personal bests in both finals.

Plus, how Thea’s coach and husband Aaron Gadson’s weather forecasting played a key role on the night of the Olympic final.

Photo: Dominica's athlete and gold medallist Thea Lafond poses with her medal on stage at the Champions Park at Trocadero during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on August 6, 2024, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Karsten Warholm has been one of the biggest stars in world athletics since winning the 400m hurdles world title in 2017, going onto become Olympic champion and win multiple World and European titles.

But why has the Norwegian felt like he has needed a ‘reboot’ ahead of targeting a fourth world title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo?

Warholm shares more in a special podcast with Sportsworld’s Lee James ahead of the start of the 2025 season, including an insight into his training, how the new 300m hurdles Diamond League event came about and whether there could be a head-to-head race between him and 110m hurdles world champion Grant Holloway.

Image: Karsten Warholm of Norway with flag after competing in the Men's 400m Hurdles during Day 14 of Athletics - Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 9, 2024 in Paris, France. (Credit: BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel dominated the sport in his Red Bull car before leaving to join the most successful and iconic team on the grid - Ferrari.

The German went onto win 53 Grand Prix's during his career and came close to delivering the Italian team their first drivers title since 2007 when he twice finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton.

After retiring from the sport in 2022, Vettel has dedicated his efforts to sustainability projects and uses his platform to promote many environmental and social causes around the world.

In a special podcast, Sportsworld's Lee James finds out more about Vettel's life after Formula One.

Photo: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team receives a guard of honour on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 20, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Credit: Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Julien Alfred made history in 2024 when she won the women’s 100m gold in Paris becoming St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic medallist.

In a special Sportsworld podcast, the sprinter sits down with Sportsworld’s Lee James to look back on her historic year, what it took to become Olympic champion and what it was like receiving a hero’s welcome back home.

Also hear how Alfred’s athletics career started with her first coach Cuthbert Modeste and the impact it’s had on St. Lucia with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports in Saint Lucia, Dr. Uralise Delaire.

Image: Julien Alfred of Team Saint Lucia celebrates winning the gold medal during the Women's 100m Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

A new era is beginning at Manchester United with former Braga and Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim officially installed as head coach.

Ahead of the start of the Paralympics in Paris which will see 4,400 athletes competing in 22 sports, Mani Djazmi looks ahead to the Games.

Mani is joined by 16-time British Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson, Australia’s most successful Paralympian Ellie Cole and journalist Andy Stevenson.

Indian shooter Avani Lekhara explains how sport has transformed her life, while French wheelchair tennis superstar Stephane Houdet expresses his excitement about the prospect of competing in a home Games.

Photo: A general view of the 'Three Agitos' Paralympic symbol as it is installed at the Arc de Triomphe ahead of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games on June 28, 2024 in Paris, France. Paris will host the Summer Paralympic Games from August 28 till September 8, 2024. (Credit: Getty Images)

After 16 days of competition across 32 sports with 329 gold medallists the Olympic Games in Paris has drawn to a close.

Lee James is joined by French broadcaster Julian Laurens to assess the impact of the Games and the legacy they can have on the city of Paris and the nation of France.

The team look back at the memorable moments and athletes from the Games, and what may be to come in Los Angeles in 2028 with the help of USA Today’s Rachel Bowers as well as Sportsworld's Ed Harry and Ade Adedoyin.

Image: A general view inside Eiffel Tower Stadium following the Women's Semifinal match between Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy of Team Australia and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa of Team Brazil on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Credit: Getty Images)

BBC World Service introduce you to the five bosses who’ll be making their managerial debuts in the Premier League this season.

Find out all you need to know about the managers including Pep Guardiola’s former assistant, the man following in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps and the youngest permanent coach in Premier League history. Plus two managers who are tipped for big things after winning promotion last season.

Sportsworld’s John Bennett is joined by former Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong and journalist Carl Anka, plus four experts who’ll give you an insight into the personality of the new head coaches you’ll be hearing during Sportsworld’s Premier League coverage this season.

Image: Head coach Arne Slot of Liverpool yells from the side line in the first half during their pre-season friendly against the Real Betis at Acrisure Stadium on July 26, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

In Rio 2016, African competitors won 45 medals, with 10 of them golds. At the last Games in Tokyo - that number slipped to 37 medals overall.

But Africa does have its first medal. On the opening day, South Africa won bronze in the men's Rugby 7s.

BBC Sport Africa's senior reporter Celestine Karoney. George Addo Junior and Nishat Ladha joined Sportsworld’s Lee James at our Olympic hub to take a look at Africa’s medal chances.

Photo: Bronze medallist Mohamed Elsayed of Team Egypt celebrates on the podium during the Men's Épée medal ceremony on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Credit: Getty Images)

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred is this year’s World Indoor champion for the women’s 60 metres. She’s aiming to win Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal, and would like it to be gold.

After a stunning US Collegiate career, Alfred reached the final of both the 100 and 200 metres at the 2023 World Championships, just missing a medal in the longer sprint. In 2024, her first season as a professional, she made history for Saint Lucia, winning the island’s first World Indoor gold, taking the 60 metres title in Glasgow.

Julien describes just how tough the pathway to the top of the sport can be. She explains how hard it was relocating to Jamaica as a young teenager in order to join a coaching group. We also gain a real insight into the role of her coach, Edrick Floreal, and the value he places on supporting his athletes – not just on the track, but in terms of their mental well-being.

Over the winter of 2023, Dina Asher-Smith joined Alfred’s training group – so what’s it like working each day alongside one of your main rivals?

What was it like when she returned home to Saint Lucia from this year’s World Indoor championships with that 60 metres gold? How much pressure is she putting on herself to deliver the country’s first Olympic medal of any colour? Plus, even when you are truly world class at 100 and 200 metres, does that necessarily mean you enjoy both events?

Image: Gold medallist Julien Alfred of Team Saint Lucia poses for a photo after winning the Women's 60 Metres Final on Day Two of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024 at Emirates Arena on March 02, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)