The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be remembered as an event filled with unforgettable moments and exceptional performances. From world records to unexpected triumphs, these Games offered us inspiring stories of perseverance, dedication, and athletic excellence. Below, we present ten athletes who left an indelible mark on the French capital, etching their names in the history books of Olympic sports.
Armand Duplantis, the Man Who Defies Gravity
Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis solidified his status as the greatest pole vaulter of all time during a magical night at the Stade de France. Before 80,000 expectant spectators, Duplantis not only secured the gold medal but also shattered his own world and Olympic records, raising the bar to an astonishing 6.25 meters.
His final jump, which seemed to defy the laws of physics, prompted a deafening ovation in the stadium. “I’ve always dreamed of this moment,” Duplantis said after his victory. “But to experience it here, in Paris, surpasses any expectation I could have had.”
Duplantis’ gold not only represents his current dominance in the discipline but also raises the question: how high can a human go? At just 24 years old, “Mondo’s” future promises even more feats.
Imane Khelif, Triumph Over Adversity
Imane Khelif’s story at these Olympic Games transcends sports. The 25-year-old Algerian boxer not only had to face her opponents in the ring but also a wave of criticism and personal attacks that threatened to derail her Olympic dream.
Khelif’s path to gold was marked by controversy from the start. Her first opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, withdrew from the bout after just 46 seconds, sparking speculation and unfounded accusations regarding Khelif’s gender identity. The Algerian boxer faced intense public scrutiny and cyberbullying, pressure that would have broken many.
However, Khelif displayed extraordinary mental strength. With tears in her eyes but fire in her heart, she fought her way through the 66 kg category, winning bout after bout until reaching the final. Her victory in the gold medal match was not just a sporting triumph but a powerful message against discrimination and harassment.
Simone Biles, the Triumphant Return of a Legend
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games witnessed one of the most anticipated and exciting comebacks in Olympic history: that of Simone Biles. After withdrawing from most events at Tokyo 2020 due to mental health issues, the 27-year-old American gymnast demonstrated extraordinary resilience and talent in her return to elite competition.
Biles not only returned but did so with performances that bordered on perfection. Over nine days of intense competition, the gymnast claimed three gold medals and one silver, reaffirming her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
Her victory in the individual all-around final was particularly emotional. Facing a new generation of talented gymnasts, including Brazil’s brilliant Rebeca Andrade, Biles executed a series of routines that combined technical difficulty with unmatched artistic grace.
In addition to gold in the all-around, Biles was crowned champion in the team competition and the vault, adding a silver in the floor final. But perhaps the most touching moment came after the floor final, where Biles and her teammate Jordan Chiles paid tribute to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade by kneeling before her in a gesture of respect and sportsmanship that captured the essence of the Olympic spirit.
Katie Ledecky, the Undisputed Queen of the Pool
Ledecky arrived at Paris 2024 with the weight of expectations on her shoulders, but once again, the American swimmer showed why she is considered one of the greatest of all time. At 27, Ledecky expanded her impressive collection of Olympic medals, taking gold in the 1500 and 800-meter freestyle, as well as a silver in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle.
What is most impressive about Ledecky is not just her dominance in long-distance events but her consistency over the years. With these performances, she brought her total to 14 Olympic medals, nine of them gold, equaling the record of Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as the woman with the most golds in Olympic history.
Kevin Durant, the King of Olympic Basketball
In Paris 2024, Durant added another golden chapter to his illustrious career. At 35, the American became the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, hanging his fourth consecutive gold medal around his neck. This achievement not only highlights his longevity and consistency at the highest level but also places him in a category of his own among Olympic legends.
The road to gold was not easy for the U.S. team, which faced fierce competition, both in the semifinal against Serbia and in the final against France.
Léon Marchand, the New Phenomenon of Swimming
If there was one name that resonated throughout La Défense Arena during the Paris Games, it was Léon Marchand. The 22-year-old French swimmer not only met his home country’s expectations but exceeded them and emerged as the new sensation of world swimming.
Marchand stunned spectators and experts alike by breaking four Olympic records on his way to five medals: gold in the 200-meter individual medley, 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter breaststroke, and 400-meter individual medley, as well as a bronze in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
His dominance in multiple styles inevitably drew comparisons with the legendary Michael Phelps, but Marchand proved to be a unique force in his own right. “I didn’t come to Paris to be the next someone,” Marchand said. “I came to be the best version of myself.”
Mijaín López, the Living Legend of Wrestling
In the world of Greco-Roman wrestling, Mijaín López was already considered a legend before arriving in Paris. However, the 41-year-old Cuban colossus had one last chapter to write in his extraordinary Olympic career, and he did so in an unforgettable way.
López achieved what seemed impossible: winning his fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 130 kg category. This unprecedented achievement makes him the only athlete in Olympic history to win the same event in five different editions of the Games.
But it was what happened afterward that captured the world’s imagination. In an emotional gesture, López removed his wrestling boots, kissed them, and left them in the center of the mat, thus announcing his retirement in the most poetic way possible.
Noah Lyles, the New King of Speed
On an electrifying night at the Stade de France, Noah Lyles not only won gold in the 100 meters but also ended two decades of Jamaican dominance in the premier event of athletics. The 27-year-old American crossed the finish line in a time of 9.79 seconds, just five thousandths ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, in one of the closest finals in Olympic history.
Lyles’ victory was more than just a gold medal; it represented a generational shift in global sprinting. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my entire life,” Lyles declared after his triumph.
However, Lyles’ story in Paris did not end with his victory in the 100 meters. In a dramatic twist, the athlete revealed that he had competed in the 200-meter final while battling COVID-19, a fact he kept secret to avoid panic. Despite the adversity, Lyles secured a bronze medal in this event.
Novak Djokovic, the Fulfilled Golden Dream
At 37, Novak Djokovic arrived in Paris 2024 with a clear goal: to conquer the one major title missing from his impressive record. The Olympic gold had eluded the Serbian tennis player in previous editions, but in the French capital, Djokovic finally achieved the Olympic glory he so desired.
The final against young Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz was an epic duel on the legendary Roland Garros court. Djokovic demonstrated why he is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, deploying a masterful game against the Spaniard to win in straight sets and secure the coveted gold.
With this victory, Djokovic joins the select group of tennis players who have achieved the individual “Golden Slam,” a feat that includes all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold. His triumph in Paris not only reaffirms his place at the top of world tennis but also closes an important chapter in his legendary career.
Teddy Riner, the Local Hero Who Delivered
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, few athletes bore as many expectations as French judoka Teddy Riner. The 2.04-meter, 35-year-old giant was not only the flag bearer for the French delegation but also an iconic figure in world judo.
Riner did not disappoint. In a performance that will be etched in France’s collective memory, the judoka won two gold medals: one in the +100 kg category and another in the mixed team competition.
But Riner’s role in these Games went beyond his achievements on the tatami. As one of the most recognizable faces of French sport, Riner had the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron alongside triple Olympic champion Marie-José Pérec during the opening ceremony. This symbolic moment marked the beginning of an unforgettable Games for France.
With these two gold medals, Riner brought his personal total to five Olympic golds, solidifying his status as one of the most successful judokas of all time and, undoubtedly, as one of France’s most beloved sports heroes.
