The Paris Summer Olympics came and went. July 26, 2024, marked the start of the games that would end up with a number of world records broken by August 11th. So what were some memorable moments from the games?
The Swedish pole vaulter, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, vaulted 6.25 meters at the games to set the world record, he now holds both the indoor and outdoor records. Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish sharpshooter stole the show when he took silver after using only one hand. Where was the other hand? In his pocket. Not only that but what covered his eyes, his everyday glasses. Moving from the range to the dance floor, Australian break dancer Rachel “Raygun” Gunn really swept the competition with her “stellar” moves. So how did she make it to the big stage, with such small moves? Well, Gunn won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023, giving her qualification for the Olympic team. When she competed at the summer games she lost all three rounds in goose eggs, scoring zero points and giving her opponents a chance to shine.
American Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, a pommel horse specialist, not only shined on the mat but also when he solved a Rubik’s cube in remarkable times. Or when he got astounding scores on Dancing With the Stars. However, you might have only caught him napping on the sides. Or take a look at the Norwegian swimmer whose biggest claim to fame wasn’t in the pool but in the cafe. Henrik Christiansen filmed his enjoyment of the Olympic Village Cafe chocolate muffins on a regular basis, some even called it a love affair but, maybe that’s a stretch.
In a more sports-focused entry, the United States of America took home a total of 126 medals, 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. China was not far behind with 91 total. Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, and Quincy Wilson broke the Olympic record in the 4×400 meter relay on the track, they ran an overall time of 2:54:43. On the flip side the men’s 4×100 meter relay got disqualified from the competition after a bad exchange between Kyree King, and Fred Kerley that resulted in a tumble. The Kenyan female distance runner Faith Kipyegon broke her own 1500-meter record by 2 seconds. This led her to become the first athlete to win 3 consecutive gold medals in the 1500 meter.
Zheng Haohao of China was the youngest athlete at the games. She competed in skateboarding at the age of 11. Hezly Rivera from the United States gymnastics team was the youngest on the U.S. team, aging only 16 years old. Quincy Wilson, who also represented America, was on the men’s track and field team. He was there as an alternate but got the chance to open the 4×400 meter relay for the men and opened the door for their gold medal victory. On the contrary, the oldest competitor at the games was 65-year-old Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo of Spain, who competed in the equestrian event.
It wasn’t just these athletes who left their mark on the games but so many more of the world’s best athletes showed what they could really do, they did it with pride, and grace (some more than others).
