In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2024, we take a look at the local athletes who represented the district in the Olympic and Paralympic games over the summer. 

Athletes from the Harrogate district were involved in the biggest sporting events of the year – the Paris Olympic and Paralympic games.

Of the 15 Olympic medals won by Yorkshire, three were earned by Harrogate district locals. 

Gold for Georgie Brayshaw

The local golden girl of the games was Harrogate rower Georgie Brayshaw. The 30-year-old former pupil of St John Fisher Catholic High School won gold in the women’s quadruple sculls final on July 31.

She and her teammates – Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott and Lola Anderson – were in second place for most of the race, before upping the pace in the last 50 metres and overtaking the Dutch crew on the line for a photo finish, winning by just 0.15 of a second.

Jack Laugher bronze

The district’s most high-profile Olympian, diver Jack Laugher, 29, competed in his fourth games. In Rio in 2016, he struck gold and silver and took a bronze in Tokyo in 2021.

In recognition of his achievements, Harrogate Borough Council renamed Ripon’s leisure centre the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in 2022.

In Paris, the ex-Ripon Grammar School pupil and diving partner Anthony Harding won bronze in the men's synchronised three metre springboard diving.

But Laugher missed out on what would have been his fifth Olympic medal after he finished seventh in the men’s three-metre springboard event.

It was also revealed that the diver uses OnlyFans to fund his Olympic career.

Harry Hepworth makes history

Harrogate-born gymnast Harry Hepworth, 20, became the first British gymnast to win a vault medal at the Olympics.

He won bronze and finished ahead of fellow Brit Jake Jarman, the European champion, who was fourth, but behind gymnasts from the Philippines and Armenia.

George Mills competes in first Olympics

Former St Aidan’s C of E High School pupil George Mills competed in his first Olympic games in the 1500m and 5,000m in the famous Stade de France.

He finished 21st in the 5,000m final before fighting his way into through the 1500m rounds.

He was forced to go through the repechage, where he fell late on but received a reprieve into the semi-final, where he just missed out on the final.

Jacob Fincham-Dukes makes debut

Harrogate-born long jumper Jacob Fincham-Dukes recorded a fifth-place finish on Olympic debut in the Stade de France.

Lottie McGuinness goes close at Paralympics 

Lottie McGuinness, the district’s only Paralympic contender, narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in powerlifting.

The healthcare assistant from Darley went to the Paralympics not expecting to win a medal, but produced a personal best bench press of 105kg.

She was in third place until the last lift of the session when Thailand's Kamolpen Kraratpet managed to lift 108kg and claim the last place on the podium.