2024 Paris Olympic Highlights & Bummers
Merci, Paris! A New Era of the Olympic Games
Bravo, Paris! The 2024 Paris Olympics have drawn to a close and my Olympic hangover has officially begun. That means I am deep in the trenches of Olympic blues, forced to grieve the end of the Games. Take me back!
The Paris edition of the Games ushered in a post-COVID world, bringing spectators and fans back from all corners of the globe.
I was fortunate to be one of those fans, spending a glorious 10 days in Paris, soaking in unity, peace, and friendship. It was an absolute dream where I saw firsthand the extent of global human connection and fellowship, placing our differences aside for a shared love of sport.
As with everything, there are highlights and bummers.
Highlights
USA Rugby Bronze
Full disclosure, before Paris, I knew nothing about rugby, including whether I liked it or not. We were lucky enough to snatch up some tickets to Women’s Rugby 7s in the Stade de France, a larger-than-life venue in North Paris, and this event changed my perspective on the sport. Not only do I like rugby now, but I am a super fan, immediately following USA Rugby and star Ilona Maher on social media. These athletes are the epitome of speed, heart, and athleticism with their fluid movements flowing throughout the field. The U.S.A. Women’s Rugby team is the moment. They deserve all the love and support they are receiving.
French Legends
Léon Marchand is an immediate legend, winning four gold medals and one bronze and securing a pivotal role in the Closing Ceremonies. Merchand brought joy and pride to the host nation, along with the French Men’s Rugby and Volleyball gold medalists, Triathlon winner Cassandre Beaugrand, and many more from Judo, Surfing, Taekwondo, Cycling, Fencing, Canoeing, contributing to the boost in France’s medal tally. I love nothing more than seeing a host country succeed and succeed they did! And being in Paris, I witnessed firsthand the appreciation for their compatriots, urging them on with love and support. I couldn’t help but cheer on the French everywhere we went.
Shooting Superstars
These individuals are cool, calm, collected competitors, shooting straight to stardom and exemplifying top-tier badassery. South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji and Türkiye’s Yusuf Dikeç, both received silver medals in their respective disciplines and earned cult followings for their killer style and swagger. Get them in the next Bond or Mission Impossible movies stat! Along with the rest of the world, I’m obsessed.
Novak Gold
The tennis GOAT finally wins his Olympic medal and it’s gold! I was at Roland Garros for his semi-final victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who battled fiercely but was no match for Novak. In the stadium, you could feel how badly he wanted to win a medal and cement his permanent place in history, winning every significant major and tournament there is. Court Philippe-Chatrier Centre Court, from row 1 to the top of the rafters, Novak’s emotion was palpable with the crowd cheering him on, propeling him forward.
Gymnastics is #1
Simone freaking Biles is the Queen. Period. Not only is she the best gymnast there ever was, but she is also a beacon of mental health, putting the topic into the mainstream for athletes and laypeople alike. It was the thrill of a lifetime to be in Paris as she and Team USA (Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hexly Rivera) won team gold, completing the redemption tour and entering their “Golden Girls” era. Icons. And then wo days later, she returned to the all-around final and grabbed herself another top-of-the-podium spot. Golden Girl indeed!
And let’s hear it for Team USA’s Men’s Gymnastics team winning a bronze medal! The women, rightfully so, are typically the headliners but the men’s gym team should also be celebrated. And of course, Stephen Nedoroscik! What a star! Stephen and teammates Brody Malone and Asher Hong were at Team USA House celebrating as the women’s team won gold and they were so supportive and kind. An outstanding Team USA performance at Bercy Arena.
Stunner Runners
Sometimes the weight of expectations to win feels like the weight of the world, negating a potential gold medal-winning performance. And the absence of those expectations can free up space to deliver a performance of a lifetime, peaking at the right moment. That’s the case for Cole Hocker and Quincy Hall. Hocker in the men’s 1500m and Hall in the 400m, came from behind to capture the gold at the finish line, sending spectators to their feet in shock and delight at their accomplishments. That’s what the Olympics are all about — determination and trying your best.
A Dynasty Reignited
Team USA Soccer is back baby! The Women’s National Team was back, ticking off each victory on their way to gold and a return to form. I attended the Quarterfinal match where USA calculated their time, pouncing at the right moment. It was a master class in patience and perseverance with each player being a superstar in their own right. LFG!
Raygun
I don’t care what anyone says, Australian break-dancer, Rachael Gunn is a global treasure and should be protected at all costs. That is all.
No Shit in the Seine
I asked anyone and everyone what their thoughts were on the topic. “Did people really shit in the Seine?” I was a mop soaking up the dirty gossip water. The consensus from Parisians was mainly that the Seine was disgusting no matter what they did and most would not dip a toe in. One Parisian shared how the Mayor of Paris jumped in right before the games, fulfilling a promise once the water was cleaned. That same Parisian shared that he and many of his comrades wished the Paris Mayor ill from getting in the water…can’t win ’em all I guess. Whether the Paris citizens will get in the Seine soon or not, there have been great strides made to clean the water, and what a treat to see the Triathletes and open-water swimmers compete in such an iconic waterway.
Bummed Out
French Gymnastique
Not being dramatic here but I am gutted over what happened to star Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos and the French Women’s Gymnastics team. The team won their first World Championship team medal, a bronze, last year, laying the groundwork for and instilling hope of a medal-worthy performance at a home Games. During qualification, Mélanie and the rest of the team fell apart on each of the four apparatus, not qualifying for the team final nor any members making individual finals. Devastating. Whether the pressure was too much or there were other reasons, the skies were the limit for potential French team and individual glory. Even if full potential was not realized, the French gymnasts showed up and did the best they could on the day, under the pressure of a nation, and that should be commended.
Jamaican Me Sad
Paris 2024 brought the disappearance of Jamaican sprint legends Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Elaine Thompson-Herah. All were plagued by injury in the run-up to and/or during the Olympic Games, leaving a meteor-sized hole in the sprint field.
Gender Sucker Punch
Two female boxers were under fire for gender tests and gender-related scrutiny, sparking trans-phobic and anti-woman rhetoric. It was harmful for all athletes involved to have their Olympic experiences tarnished while they were forced to defend their gender. Boxing as a sport has historically had issues, seemingly always on the brink of being left off the Olympic program. Thinking this debacle might be the final nail in the coffin heading toward LA 2028. Also, why are we still gender testing? It’s weird and gross.
While I was at the Games, either I was living under a rock or firmly in the positive vibes-only Olympic bubble, but it seemed like this story was mainly being pushed by American media, often publicizing inaccurate details to the story and adding a political spin. One of my travel mates was clued into the USA news feed and brought it to the group, otherwise, we may not have been clued in whilst in France.
Bronze Bullshit
I can’t even keep up with the drama unfolding here. All I know is three women are being placed in terrible situations due to judging and administrative errors and mistakes. USA’s Jordan Chiles and Romania’s Ana Bărbosu and Sabrina Voinea have been shoved into the line of fire over several controversies involving out-of-bounds, difficulty credit, and scoring inquiries — none being the fault of the gymnasts. Just another example of athletes facing the backlash and consequences for the mistakes of others. Not ok. Justice for Jordan, Ana, and Sabrina!
Pushing & Shoving
Even as an avid athletics fan, I’ve never understood the rules of physical contact in distance middle distance running as it seems inconsistent with each case yielding vastly different outcomes. I watched a 1500m race during the USA Olympic Trials where one runner seemed to blatantly shove eventual Olympic qualifier, Elle St. Pierre, sending Pierre bounding out of lane and luckily remaining on her feet. Pierre ended up qualifying but there didn’t appear to be any mention of the incident nor were there any ramifications. During the 5000m final in Paris, Faith Kipyegon of Kenya survived a tussle with Ethiopia’s Guduf Tsegay on her way to winning the silver medal. After the race, Kipyegon was disqualified due to the contact with Tsegay. Both runners appeared to be actively involved in the tiff so what truly dictates the grounds of disqualification? I still can’t make heads or tails of the situation. Luckily, Kipyegon filed a successful appeal with the silver medal being returned to her. It’s uplifting to know the process was followed but is there a root issue involving contact guidelines? Kipyegon no doubt endured a traumatic roller coaster ride only to end up with the original result. At what cost? The world watched on during the medal ceremony where tears spilled out of her eyes, signaling how taxing the whole endeavor was on her.
In true Olympic fashion, we watched the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in tandem with controversies and uplifting moments. It’s always a grab bag of good and bad but it’s safe to say Paris 2024 provided more positive memories for the world than negative ones, signaling the Games are still worth it.
In terms of the bummer moments and circumstances that are still unfolding, let’s hope for respectful and fair outcomes where we put the athletes first but also make space for grace for everyone involved. We are human after all, so mistakes happen, but it’s how we make them right that shows true character and integrity.
Overall, the world came together for a peaceful 17 days, putting differences aside, and showing humanity for one another. That is deemed a success in my book.
See you in Los Angeles!