To be honest, I’m not usually that fussed about the Olympics. As a football fan, watching people throw heavy objects, poke each other with bendy swords, and flop around swimming pools in unison doesn’t excite me nearly as much as tournaments like the World Cup. However, for some reason, Paris 2024 was different.
Whether this was because it was an exceptionally good games or simply the first in the post-pandemic era, I don’t know. But I found myself swept along with even the most fervent Olympics fanatics – engrossed in everything from sailing and synchronised swimming to trampolining and table tennis.
So, now the games have finished and Tom Cruise has absconded with the Olympic flag, I’ve decided to prolong my new-found enthusiasm and take a look back at some of the competition’s best moments.
1. Cindy Ngamba secures first-ever medal for IOC Refugee Olympic Team
Winning a medal at the Olympics is a spectacular achievement, but doing so as a refugee is something else entirely – and Paris 2024 was the first games to see this happen.
After beating the reigning world champion in her opening match, 25-year-old boxer Cindy Ngamba went on to bag herself a bronze; the first ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team. What’s more, Ngamba only narrowly missed out on silver, losing by a split decision in the semi-final.
Masomah Ali Zada, a former member and now-head of the Refugee Olympic Team, said…
“[Ngamba] has demonstrated to the world what refugees can achieve; she has been an inspiration to a population of more than 120 million people and given light to our stories, our journeys. For that we are forever grateful.”
2. Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart dressing up for the dressage
Unlikely best friends Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart turned heads at Château de Versailles when they turned up to watch the dressage in full equestrian costume.
Despite looking dapper, the rapper, who was working as a correspondent for the American television network NBC, confessed that he’s actually afraid of horses. But he seemingly overcame his fears as the pair were spotted feeding some from the US team.
3. Lola Anderson’s childhood dream
Emotions were flying high when Team GB overtook the Netherlands in the final few metres of the women’s quad sculls to secure gold. But when viewers heard the heartwarming story behind one of the rowers’ Olympic journeys, a story of elation quickly turned into a tearjerker.
After watching Helen Glover and Heather Stanning take gold at London 2012, 14-year-old Lola Anderson pulled out her diary and scribbled in pink highlighter…
“My name is Lola Anderson and I think it would be my biggest dream in life to go to the Olympics in rowing and if possible win a gold for GB.”
Embarrassed by the entry, Lola quickly tore it out and threw it in the bin. But seven years later, two months before he passed away from cancer, Lola’s father handed it back to her. He’d fished it out of the bin quickly afterwards and kept it all this time. As Anderson says, he wanted her to have it “as a reminder and a memento that even when you don’t back yourself, your parents and loved ones always do”.
4. French pole vaulter misses out on final in an unusual way
French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati went viral after an unfortunate mishap looked to have cost him a place in the final.
The 21-year-old appeared to have cleared the 5.7m bar, only for his pole (no, not that one) to catch on the bar and knock it off. In reality, Ammirati hit the bar with his shin and knees before his manhood, but the incident still makes for, let’s say, memorable television.
Since then, Ammirati and his sizeable package have gone viral, earning the Frenchman hundreds of thousands of social media followers.
5. Andy Murray’s swansong
Paris 2024 was a big year for tennis. For many around the world, the highlight was when Novak Djokovic took gold in the men’s singles. By doing so, the Serb has claimed every major title in tennis, including all four Grand Slams.
However, here in the UK, attentions were firmly fixed on the men’s doubles, where Andy Murray was playing the final matches of his career alongside Dan Evans. Though the pair were undoubtedly hoping for gold, they bowed out in the quarter-finals after being bested by Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
While not the storybook ending we were hoping for, Murray’s 2024 Olympics marks the end of an illustrious career. Over the years, Murray has clinched three Grand Slams (including two Wimbledons) and two Olympic gold medals, all while competing against the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in what’s probably the best tennis era of all time.
Plus, after an emotional farewell on the court, Murray showed his classic British sense of humour by posting on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway”.
6. The fastest race in history
The 100m finals are always an Olympic highlight. Over the course of two 10-second races, the titles of the world’s fastest man and woman are decided. But while expectations were high, no one could’ve predicted what happened in 2024’s men’s final.
Following a dazzling light show and a nail-bitingly long wait at the start line, the pistol fired and the race was over in a flash – even for a 100m sprint. All eight athletes crossed the line in under 10 seconds, making it the fastest race Olympic race in history.
Thanks to a last-minute surge of pace, American Noah Lyles came in first, beating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by five-thousandths of a second.
7. Surfing snap makes waves
From high-flying snaps of Nadia Comăneci in Montreal to Usain Bolt’s grinning finish in Rio, the Olympics has produced some truly iconic photographs over the years – and Paris 2024 was no exception. But the most memorable of them all was probably this one of surfer Gabriel Medina.
After catching one of the biggest waves of the day and riding it in style, the Brazillian ‘kicked out’ (exited the wave at the end of his run), holding his finger in the air as if to say ‘number one’. However, his near-perfect performance was soon outshone by the photograph taken by Jérôme Brouillet, who was bobbing on a boat nearby.
What’s more, viewers of the women’s surfing were also in for a treat when a whale breached during the semi-finals of the event.
8. Alex Yee’s triathlon comeback
Alex Yee’s triathlon comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. With just five minutes remaining in the race, Yee found himself trailing New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde by 14 seconds – a gap that was seemingly insurmountable.
However, Yee summoned an incredible burst of energy and tactical brilliance in the final moments. He steadily closed the gap, overtaking Wilde just before the final turn onto the blue carpet.
Yee’s remarkable sprint finish allowed him to claim the gold medal, upgrading his silver from Tokyo 2020. His performance, running 20 seconds faster than Wilde over the final 1.45km, will be remembered as one of the most thrilling comebacks in Olympic triathlon history.
9. Biles and Chiles bow down to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade
In a remarkable display of sportsmanship at the 2024 Paris Olympics, American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed down to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade during the floor exercise medal ceremony.
Andrade won gold, with Biles taking silver and Chiles bronze, marking the first all-Black podium in Olympic gymnastics history. The gesture came after Andrade’s exceptional performance, which Biles praised as the best floor routine of the Olympics.
Both American athletes expressed their respect and admiration for Andrade, calling her a “queen” and emphasizing the importance of supporting fellow competitors. This moment of mutual respect and celebration quickly went viral, capturing the true spirit of the Olympic Games.
10. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaks the world record for the sixth time
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, shattering her own world record in the 400-metre hurdles for the sixth time. She clocked an astonishing 50.37 seconds, securing her second consecutive Olympic gold medal.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominant run left her competitors far behind, with her teammate Anna Cockrell taking silver and Femke Bol of the Netherlands bagging bronze. This victory extended her unbeaten streak to 25 consecutive wins since August 2019.
At just 25 years old, McLaughlin-Levrone has solidified her status as the greatest 400-metre hurdler in history, continually pushing the boundaries of the sport.
Final thoughts…
Reflecting on these 10 memorable moments from the Paris Olympics reminds us that the events are about more than just sports. They’re a celebration of human spirit, global unity, and the pursuit of excellence.
As the Olympic flame was extinguished and the athletes bid farewell to Paris, I found myself surprisingly wistful. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, filled with moments of triumph, heartbreak, and sheer awe at human potential. From Alex Yee’s incredible triathlon comeback to Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles’ touching display of sportsmanship,
So, as the Olympic flag makes its journey across the Atlantic to Los Angeles, I find myself already looking forward to 2028. And with the paralympics just around the corner, we, undoubtedly, won’t have to wait long for many more unforgettable moments…
What was your favourite moment from the Paris 2024 Olympics? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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