The UK is lucky to have many female athletes who can compete and win on the world stage. Let’s look at three of them, all of whom have major events to compete in this year.
Katie Boulter
When you think of female UK tennis players, the first name that comes to mind is Emma Raducanu. However, the former US Open champion is not our top ranked player. That honour goes to Katie Boulter who could well be seeded at upcoming Grand Slam events.
Boulter is in the top 30 at present and has already had a memorable 2024. The year began well for her with two wins in the United Cup team tournament. One was against the American Jessica Pegula who was ranked third in the world at the time.
March was when Boulter really hit the headlines when winning the San Diego Open tournament. That was a WTA 500 event, and her five wins all came against top 40 ranked opponents.
Boulter also reached the last 16 of the Miami Open and that again saw her jump up the rankings. June will see her play in the main draw of the clay court French Open for the first time. Clay isn’t her best surface and UK bookmakershave her as high as 500/1 to win the title.
Tennis is ever popular and there’s been more interest thanks to the latest Zendaya movie ‘Challengers’ that’s just been released.
Boulter will have high hopes of a good run at Wimbledon. The past two years have seen her reach the third round and in 2022 she beat sixth seeded Karolina Pliskova. Winning the title has odds of 80/1 but a good run looks likely, especially if seeded.
Shannon Ryan
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua isn’t the only top boxer from Watford, England. Shannon Ryan is also having a successful professional career and has a big fight in June. In fact, she’s signed to Anthony Joshua’s management team and dreams of following in his footsteps and becoming a world champion.
At the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on June 22, her first titles could be won. Ryan takes on Emma Dolan with the vacant British Super Flyweight title and the Commonwealth belt on the line. Can she win her first professional titles in June? UK bookmakers have her at 1/4 to beat the unbeaten Commonwealth champion Emma Dolan who is 3/1 to cause an upset.
Her dream is to become an undisputed world champion by 2028 and so far has won all seven of her professional contests. Ryan says she also wants to “inspire people in life in whatever field they’re in.” Her message to others is “Don’t neglect your purpose and your passion.”
Women’s boxing has come a long way in recent years. In March 2022, Ryan was part of the first ever all-female boxing show that was held at the O2 Arena in London. Seeing female boxing become so popular means a lot to her saying: “To be a part of that and make an impact on the younger generation is incredible.”
Her sporting career began in kickboxing when just five years of age. Injury halted her dream of representing Great Britain in taekwondo at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Molly Caudery
2024 sees the Paris Olympics take place and one bright prospect for the UK is Molly Caudery. The 24-year-old pole-vaulter has already proved that she has strong medal chances in Paris when becoming the indoor world champion this year.
Born in Truro, Cornwall, Caudery is a keen surfer but becoming a pole-vaulter really was in her blood. Both of her parents as well as her brother have all competed in the spot. Between the age of ten and 18, it was her father who coached the future star athlete.
In 2017, she won the silver medal at the European Athletics U20 Championships. A year later, Caudery was England’s youngest athlete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It’s not been a smooth ride with COVID interrupting her time at the University of Miami. 2021 saw her suffer injuries to both a finger and an Achilles with nine months on the injury list.
Last year saw her back full fit and winning the British Championships. A fifth-place finish at the World Championships and a new personal best of 4.86m gives her a good chance of success in Paris.
Great Britain has odds of 40/1 to win the most Gold Medals in the 2024 Olympics and 33/1 to win the most medals. Hopefully, Caudery can end up on the medal podium and hopefully win gold.
