The 2024 Olympics: The best , the worse and everything in between
The 2024 Olympics have been nothing short of spectacular, filled with moments that will go down in history. So, whether you were glued to your screen or following update on social media, the Olympics were a feast of athletic prowess, cultural pride, and unforgettable moments.
The 2024 Olympics were filled with breathtaking performances, unexpected triumphs, and heartwarming and unforgetable moments. Moment that will be remembered for years to come. From the spectacular opening ceremony to surprise victories, here’s a look at the top best moments from the Paris Olympics.
1. A Dazzling Opening Ceremony
The 2024 Olympics kicked off with a breathtaking opening ceremony that showcased the best of Parisian way of life. From stunning performances by world-renowned artists such French-Malian Aya Nakamura and Lady Gaga. Or, the intricate scenography that brought to life the history of the city and, of the Olympic Games, the ceremony set the tone for what would be an unforgettable competition. The highlights? The ceremony took place in the open air and around the city’s landmarks. Celine Dion’s mesmerising rendition of Hymne à l’amour (a French classic from legendary singer Edith Piaf), againt a glittery Eiffel Tower, was probably thee highlight of the night.
2. African Nations Shine Bright
The 2024 Olympics were a landmark event for African nations, who not only competed fiercely but also brought home unprecedented medals. From track and field to gymnastics and, team sports, African athletes displayed their exceptional talents and brought pride to their nations. For instance, Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) won his county its first ever gold medal in the men’s 200 meters. The South Africa’s men’s 4×00 silver medal is also particularly noteworthy. Kenya and Ethiopia continued success in long-distance running deeserve praises.
A shout out to the following African athletes for their stand out performances :
- Kaylia Nemour (Algeria) first ever medals in gymnastics
- Tatjana Smith (South Africa) , she clinched gold and silver in Swimming
- David Pina (Cae Verde), who brought the country its first ever olympic medal in boxing.
It is also worth mentioning the Cameroonian born Cindy Gamba, who made history by being the first athele competing in the Refugees team, to win a medal.
3. Simone Biles’ Triumphant Return
Simone Biles, the gymnastics legend, made a powerful comeback at the 2024 Olympics after taking a mental health break during at the 2020 Olympics. Her return was met with overwhelming support, and she didn’t disappoint. Biles demonstrated why she’s considered the greatest gymnast of all time. Indeed she won gold in both the individual all-around and floor events. Furthermore, her performance was not only a testament to her resilience but also, an inspiring reminder of the importance of mental health in sports.
4. Black Girls Magic Viral Moment
An all-black girls podium became a viral internet sensation of these 2024 Paris Olympic and a heartfelt moment. Rebecca Andrade (Gold/Brazil), Simone Biles (Bronze/USA) and Jordan Chiles (Silver/USA) are indeed the winning trio of the women’s artistic floor exercise final.
Rebecca’s win is a story of resilience and determination that deserves to be celebrated.
Unfortunately, due to some ruling technicalities’s it was announced on Monday that Chiles will have to return her bronze medal and bumped to 5th place.
Instagram Paris 2024
5. Snoop Dogg Steals the Show as the Olympic Mascot
In one of the most unexpected yet delightful moments of the 2024 Olympics, rapper and pop culture icon Snoop Dogg took on the role of the official Olympic mascot. His unique flair brought a new level of entertainment to the Games, from his commentary during events to his interactions with athletes and fans. Snoop’s presence added a touch of humor and relatability to the Olympics, making the Games more accessible and enjoyable for audiences around the world. Who would have tought that some Gangsta’ rapper of the 90ies would become this cool figure loved by kids, moms and grandmas around the world!
Snoog Dogg re-endorsed his rapper role and performed (alongside long time collaborator, Dr Dre), from Venice Beach in Los Angeles, the next Olympics host city.
6. South Sudan and Nigeria’s Basketball Triumphs
The South Sudan Men’s Basketball Team and the Nigeria Women’s Basketball Team made headlines with their exceptional performances. South Sudan, a relatively new nation in the (sports) world, defied the odds by participating in the Olympics and showcasing their growing basketball prowess against big teams. Nigeria’s women’s team, the D’Tigress, on the other hand, made history by being the first African women team to reach the quarter finals stages in the Olympics.
6. Imane Khelif’s Golden Revenge
The controversy regarding Algerian’s boxer Imane Khelif’s gender, unfortunately casted a dark cloud over the Olympics. Like Imane, many females’ athletes before, mostly women of colors, have been accused of being men or transgenders and subjected to bullying and demeaning treatments. Wining gold medals was the best revenge for Imane.
Earlier this week, it was announce that Khelif filed a lawsuit for cyber-bulllying and reportedly named people like author JK Rowling and X’s owner, Elon Musk.
7. Nail-Biting Basketball Finals Between USA and France
The basketball finals between the USA and France were nothing short of electrifying. Both the men’s and women’s teams delivered performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The matches were tightly contested, with a very tight lead in both games, but in the end, it was the USA that emerged victorious, continuing their legacy of basketball dominance.
8. Australia’s Viral Breakdancer
“Grand opening, grand closing”? Breakdancing was one of the few new non-traditional sports introduced at this year Olympics, alongside skateboarding (which features mostly young stylish teenagers) surfing, and climbing.
Unfortunatel, breakdancing became a meme at these Olympics, due to the lacklustre performance of Australian so-called breakdance routine. Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn delivered a performance that resembled more a toddler tantrum than displaying real breakdancing skills. Behind all the memes and the ridicule, it was really an insult to the pioneers and real lover of the genre.
Breakdancing will apparently not be feature at the 2028 edition in Los Angeles.
9. The End of Jamaica and USA’s Track Dominance
The 2024 Olympics marked the end of an era in track and field as new nations rose to the occasion, ending the long-standing dominance of Jamaica and the USA. This changing of the guard was particularly evident in the sprint events, where emerging athletes from countries like Botswana and Dominica (Not Dominican Republican) took centre stage, proving that the future of track is truly global.
Instagram Paris 2024
10. Sifan Hassan’s Record-Breaking Run
Dutch (Ethiopian born) runner Sifan Hassan once again proved her dominance in long-distance running by winning bronze in the 5000 & 10 000 meters and gold in the women’s marathon! Her incredible pace, endurance and famous ‘late kick’ left spectators in awe, and her achievement further cemented her status as one of the greatest runners of her generation. It was also beautiful to withess Sifan received her last medal proudly donning her hijab in a country that forbids its athletes to do so. Diversity and inclusion at the Olympics, and in every parts of society, deserve celebration, or at least, respect.
11. Yseult’s “My Way” Rendition at the Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 2024 Olympics was not as captivating as the opening (with its famous controversial ‘Cene’. The pace and the quality of the performances were uneven and quite boring at time, but standout performance by French singer Yseult saved the night. Her soulful rendition of “My Way”, a cover by Frank Sinatra of ‘Comme habitude (Claude Francois) was both a celebration and a poignant farewell, capturing the spirit of perseverance and individuality that defined these Olympics. The performance left a lasting impression on all who watched, serving as a reminder of the power of music to bring people together.
The 2024 Olympics will be remembered for many things, but these moments stand out as the highlights that captured the world’s attention. Whether you were cheering for your favorite athletes or simply enjoying the spectacle, these moments remind us of the power of sports to inspire, unite, and entertain.
Au revoir Paris! you’ve given us so many unforgettable moments.
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