Before the Olympics even started, and later at the opening ceremony, there were moments that took the internet by storm. Mayor Hidalgo demonstrated in the Seine that the river was perfectly suitable for swimming, Céline Dion made a comeback at the Eiffel Tower after many years, and Parisian drag queens sparked heated reactions among religious and sexually conservative communities for days. Of course, there were also many big stories during the Olympics. We’ve compiled the highlights of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
First-Time Winners
On August 3, two Caribbean islands won their first Olympic medals ever, and both were gold: Dominica thanks to triple jumper Thea LaFond-Gadson, and Saint Lucia, thanks to sprinter Julien Alfred, who beat superstar Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 meters. A day later, David de Pina’s bronze in boxing also became Cabo Verde’s first medal.
5 Thousandths of a Second
After American star Noah Lyles ran a lightning-fast heat, barely losing to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, the 27-year-old sprinter won the 100 meters final, making him the first American to win the event since Justin Gatlin in 2004. Lyles didn’t start well and was only seventh at the halfway mark. Lyles ultimately won by just five thousandths of a second over Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. Another American, Fred Kerley, took the bronze.
Golden Slam
A few weeks after losing to heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon men’s singles final, Novak Djokovic turned the tables in Paris on August 4, defeating the 21-year-old Spaniard in straight sets (7-6, 7-6). The match, which went to tiebreaks in both sets and was attended by Billie Jean King and Serena Williams, saw both players compete at the highest level. Djokovic fell to his knees and cried after match point, as this Olympic gold was the only major tennis title that had eluded him until then.
American Women
Katie Ledecky’s 15:30.02 time in the 1500-meter freestyle set a new Olympic record, earning her the eighth Olympic gold medal of her career, breaking a 20-year-old record held by Jenny Thompson. When she won her ninth gold in the 800-meter freestyle, Ledecky officially became the most decorated American woman in Olympic history.
Simone Biles didn’t hold back on results either! Wherever she competed, celebrities swarmed, and the crowd went wild. Biles finished the Paris Olympics with three gold and one silver medal, making her the most successful gymnast ahead of Japan’s Oka Sinnoszuke. On July 30, the gymnastics team led by Biles scored 171.296 points, beating Italy and Brazil. The medal marked a triumphant comeback for the USA team since their second-place finish in Tokyo, where Biles withdrew midway. Later that evening, in an Instagram post celebrating the team’s results, Biles cheekily referenced comments made by her former teammate MyKayla Skinner in June after the Paris team was finalized. Skinner later apologized, claiming her comments were misunderstood and not meant to criticize the rest of Team USA.
The Bowman Show
Swimmer Léon Marchand, one of the host nation’s greatest hopes in one of the most popular Olympic sports, made history. The 22-year-old French star became the fourth swimmer to win at least four individual golds in a single Olympics, following American Mark Spitz (1972), East German Kristin Otto (1988), and American Michael Phelps (2004, 2008). The Stade de France, hosting the first night of athletics, erupted in huge cheers when Marchand won his fourth gold. The cheers were so loud that the first heat of the decathlon’s 400 meters was postponed.
Higher and Higher
Although born in Louisiana, 24-year-old Armand Duplantis competes for Sweden, his mother’s homeland. In Paris, he soared to incredible heights, jumping 6.25 meters and setting a world record for the ninth time, but this time on the sport’s biggest stage.
Teddy Bear
One of the French favorites, judoka Teddy Riner, strengthened his place among the sport’s legends by winning his third gold in the over 100 kg category. Later, he led his country’s mixed team to another Olympic title. Previously, only Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura had won three Olympic titles before him, in 1996, 2000, and 2004.