Closing ceremony brings Paris 2024 to its natural end, it’s time to reflect around the most important sport achievement we testified during this Olympic Games
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games offered a lot of high performances, unforgettable moments and some historic achievements. But most of all re-enforced a relationship between people and Olympic events after Covid forced Tokyo 2021 to a struggling and poor edition from an attendance point of view.
It’s not all about gold medals and podiums. Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be remembered for its rich stunning venues and courageous choices, maybe with some discussion about an exhausting opening ceremony and the decision to let the swimmers compete in the ugly and dirty Seine waterfront that organizers defended even a little too much fiercely.
Once more athletes shattered records, defied expectations, and inspired millions of young people with their determination, skill, and sportsmanship. The Games were not without their share of controversies and challenges, but these too played a role in shaping the narrative of an event that captivated the world’s attention.
Here are some of the best moments from the Games
Simone Biles’ Triumphant Return – After her courageous decision to prioritize mental health in Tokyo 2020 at the end of a personal tremendous experience, Simone Biles returned to the Olympic stage, capturing gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition. Her performance was a powerful statement on resilience and the importance of mental well-being in sports.
Italy’s First Women’s Volleyball Gold – Italy’s women’s volleyball team made history by winning their first-ever Olympic gold, defeating the USA in a dominant 3-0 final. This victory was a culmination of years of development, showcasing the depth and talent of Italian volleyball.
Noah Lyles’ Golden Bigmouth – American sprinter Noah Lyles stunned the world by winning gold the tightest 100m final ever, competing 200m nevertheless Covid and missing the 4×100. He created a lot of buzz with his comments that caused some problems inside US Team, especially with basket Dream Team.
Ledecky’s Record-Breaking Performance – U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky solidified her status as one of the greatest swimmers of all time by winning her fourth consecutive gold in the 800m freestyle, making her the first swimmer to achieve this feat in a single event. She closes her Olympic history with 12 medals, 8 golden.
Paola Egonu Leads Italy to Historic Volleyball Gold – Italy’s women’s volleyball team, led by Paola Egonu, claimed their first-ever Olympic gold medal, defeating the defending champions, the United States, in straight sets. Egonu’s 22-point performance was pivotal in securing this historic win, making Italy a new powerhouse in the sport.
USA Fifth Victory in Men’s Basketball – The French men’s basketball team tried it all but United States won a thrilling final getting their fifth Olympic gold medal in a raw. Same in the Women tournament with a thrilling show at the very last gasp that pushed France just one point away from the overtime (67-66).
Armand Duplantis’ World Record – Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set a new world record by clearing 6.23 meters, further cementing his status as the greatest pole vaulter of all time.
Brazil’s Historic Win in Surfing – In only the second Olympic surfing competition, Brazil’s Ítalo Ferreira won gold, showcasing his skill and solidifying surfing’s place in the Olympic program. His victory was a defining moment for the sport’s future.
Tamirat Tola is Marathon Gold – Ethiopian Tamirat Tola wins Paris Marathon with the new Olympic record (2.06.26) after the Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge tried winning his third consecutive Olympic gold: but he had to retire. A new history has been written after Rio and Tokyo.
Tara Davis-Woodhall’s Emotional Long Jump Victory In one of the most emotional moments of the Games, American long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall won gold with a leap of 7.10 meters. Her victory, coming after overcoming personal challenges and injury, was a poignant reminder of the human spirit’s resilience.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 400m Hurdles Masterclass – American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shattered her own world record in the women’s 400m hurdles, finishing with a time of 51.34 seconds. Her incredible speed and technique left the world in awe and solidified her as a track and field superstar.
China’s Clean Sweep in Table Tennis – China continued its dominance in table tennis, winning gold in all events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s team, and women’s team. Five golden medal plus a silver in individual women’s competition. An incredible clean sweep underscores the country’s continued excellence in the sport, maintaining its unchallenged status at the top.
Olympic Games will now restart on February 6th, 2026, for Milano-Cortina winter games. To come back to USA, Los Angeles, in 2028. Games of the XXXIV Olympiad will host 35 discplines and will be opened at SoFi Memorial Coliseum Stadium by next USA President on July 14th, 2028.
