THE highlight for everyone in 2012 were the London Olympics and Paralympics.
And as a rash of gold medals prompted celebrations throughout Great Britain, Yorkshire played a huge part in the home success.
At one stage in the first week of competition Yorkshire had won more medals than Australia, and among those winners was former Holme Valley Wheeler Ed Clancy.
The 27-year-old cycle star – already an Olympic winner in Beijing four years before – teamed up with Geraint Thomas, Steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh to win the men’s team pursuit gold in world record-breaking time as Australia were pushed into the silver medal place in the final.
Clancy also participated in the Omnium, claiming a bronze medal.
Dewsbury-born Alistair Brownlee also enjoyed a stunning Olympics winning the gold in the triathlon.
The 24-year-old went into the Games as reigning world champion after winning the Grand Final in Beijing and struck Olympic gold on August 7, while his younger brother Jonny finished in third to take the bronze medal.
There were also celebrations in Huddersfield as Leeds-based boxer Nicola Adams, whose father Innocent lives in the town, shot to fame with her gold medal and equally golden smile.
And in the Paralympics there were two golden moments for Halifax’s Hannah Cockroft.
On August 31 the wheelchair racer took Great Britain’s first track and field gold medal of the 2012 Summer Paralympics, winning the final of the 100 metres T34 in 18.05 seconds – a Games record.
A week later the 20-year-old won another gold in the 200 metres T34 in 31.90 seconds – another a Paralympic record.
Cockroft was awarded the freedom of Calderdale at a homecoming event at the Halifax Piece Hall.
