LEXINGTON, Ky. — However one feels toward the tumultuous year that has been 2024, there has been one unmitigated positive for we locals: Sports figures who were reared in Lexington have produced a year of unprecedented triumph and acclaim.

In the spring, thoroughbred horse trainer Kenny McPeek — graduate of Tates Creek High School — achieved a coveted milestone that had gone unattained for 72 years.

On back-to-back days in May, McPeek trained Thorpedo Anna to victory in the Kentucky Oaks and Mystik Dan to triumph in the Kentucky Derby.

Not since Ben Jones of the iconic Calumet Farm achieved the “Kentucky double” in 1952 with Real Delight (Oaks) and Hill Gail (Derby) had a trainer won the commonwealth’s marquee horse races in the same year.

Though toiling in the “Sport of Kings,” McPeek, 62, carries himself with a blue collar air and an underdog’s ethos.

“I think what I am most proud of, we didn’t do this with Calumet Farm horses,” McPeek said after reaching his career zenith. “We did it with ‘working-class’ horses. ... This isn’t a huge, zillion-dollar operation. We didn’t throw money at this. We thoughtfully went through it all — and it’s amazing.”

Mystik Dan’s win in the Derby gave McPeek the career Triple Crown, the trainer having previously won the Preakness in 2020 with Swiss Skydiver and the Belmont in 2002 with Sarava.

The filly Thorpedo Anna went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, giving McPeek his first Breeders’ Cup win after seven second-place finishes and 10 thirds.

That was 2024 for Lexington’s Kenny McPeek.

In the summer, fencer Lee Kiefer — graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School — traveled to Paris, France, and entered her name in American Olympics lore.

First, Kiefer successfully defended the Olympics gold medal she had won three years prior in Tokyo in women’s individual foil fencing. Then, Kiefer joined Lauren Scruggs, Jacqueline Dubrovich and Maia Weintraub to win gold for the United States in women’s team foil fencing.

It was the first Olympic gold medal in a team fencing event ever won by the U.S. It made Kiefer, 30, the first U.S. fencer with three career gold medals.

“I think everyone needs to push themselves, learn to be uncomfortable and believe in themselves,” Kiefer said two weeks ago while accepting the “Andy Beshear Distinguished Alumni Award” from Fayette County Public Schools. “... I hope people seeing me up can motivate them and inspire them to try hard things.”

For Kiefer, the journey to the top of the Olympics medal podium began in the dining room of her childhood home. That is where Steve Kiefer, a former Duke University fencing team captain, began teaching the sport he loved to the three children he shares with his wife, Teresa.

Of the three, the oldest, Alexandra, went on to win the 2011 NCAA championship in women’s foil fencing for Harvard. The youngest, Axel, would finish in the top three for Notre Dame in NCAA Tournaments in men’s foil fencing three times, including as runner-up in 2019.

The middle child, Lee, not only would go on to win four NCAA titles for Notre Dame in women’s foil fencing; this summer in Paris, she became the most decorated Olympics fencer in American history.

That was 2024 for Lexington’s Lee Kiefer.

In the fall, Major League Baseball pitcher Walker Buehler — graduate of Henry Clay High School — etched his name into World Series history in a most improbable manner.

Only two days after throwing five scoreless innings as a starter and being the winning pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 against the New York Yankees, Buehler came out of the bullpen for the ninth inning of Game 5 with L.A. up one run — and needing three outs to become the world champions.

Buehler proceeded to sit the Yankees down 1-2-3, inducing a groundout and two strikeouts.

Buehler’s Game 5 save was apparently his final act as a Dodger. Word came Monday that the free agent has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox for 2025.

For Buehler, the path from Lexington to the World Series mound at Yankee Stadium began in the streets of the Willow Glen subdivision, throwing a baseball with his maternal grandfather, Dave Walker, while starting to learn how to become a pitcher.

The former Henry Clay star’s postseason success was made more poignant for having come at the end of a trying regular season.

After having undergone a second Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing (right) elbow in 2022 and then missing all of 2023, Buehler, 30, came back this year to go 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in the 2024 regular season.

“The rehab throwing thing is a difficult thing,” Buehler said last month at his charity golf tournament in explaining his struggles. “You kind of get stuck in bad habits. ... I just got into the wrong (habits) and couldn’t get rid of them.”

Yet in a triumph of tenacity and self-belief, Buehler worked his way back from a season filled with challenge to become a World Series hero.

That was 2024 for Lexington’s Walker Buehler.

Now, if you like your sports successes to come with a moral, the achievements this calendar year by McPeek, Kiefer and Buehler are a reminder that — with talent and the diligence to apply it — one can start here and scale the highest peaks of national and international achievement.

Meanwhile, in the context of Lexington sports, 2024 is going to be one tough act to follow.

©2024 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.