The 2024 Olympics in Paris have come to an end, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable and memorable moments. Over 19 days, the City of Lights played host to athletes from around the world, competing in a wide range of sports.
As we say au revoir to this spectacular event, here are 7 of the most memorable moments from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Simone! Simone!! Simone!!!
Simone Biles may have been the star of the show, but she received widespread praise for her gracious gesture on the podium, where she bowed to her rival, Rebeca Andrade. Biles explained that it was “just the right thing to do” after she and her teammate, Jordan Chiles, took silver and bronze in the floor final, finishing behind the Brazilian champion.
However, the results took an unexpected turn when Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu was later awarded the bronze medal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Chiles should not have been upgraded from her initial fifth-place finish, correcting the standings and adding a twist to the competition’s outcome. Despite the change, Biles’ sportsmanship remained a highlight of the event.
Female boxing gender controversy
In a lively evening at Roland Garros, the historic venue of the French Open, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won gold, using her victory speech to respond to what she described as “attacks” and “bullying.” She boldly stated, “I am a woman like any other.”
Khelif, along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, had faced disqualification from last year’s world championships after failing gender eligibility tests. Despite this, both athletes were later cleared to compete in Paris, leading to one of the most talked-about controversies of the Games.
The close-call finish!
The men’s 100m final, the marquee event of the Olympic Games, was a thrilling race at Stade de France on August 4. American sprinter Noah Lyles appeared to be closing in on Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson at the last second. To the naked eye, it looked like Thompson might have held on, and even Lyles thought so, telling Thompson on the track, “I think you got that one, big dog,” while waiting for the official results.
But Lyles was in for a surprise. He won the race by just .005 seconds, thanks to his torso crossing the finish line first.
4 athletes of Nigerian origin who won medals for other countries in the Paris Olympics
What could have been proud moments for Nigeria turned into missed opportunities, as the country now faces a four-year wait for redemption. Instead, we saw athletes of Nigerian descent shine for other nations. The Naija spirit was evident, but it was celebrated elsewhere.
- Yemisi Ogunleye: Yemisi is the Gernan golden girl, born to a Nigerian father from Ekiti State. She made history by winning gold in the shot put for Germany. This achievement marked Germany’s first gold in the event since Astrid Kumbernuss in 1996. Ogunleye proudly identifies with her German heritage while embracing her Nigerian roots.
- Samu Omorodion: born in Melilla, a Spanish to Nigerian parents, Omorodion moved to Seville at a young age where he was raised. Omorodion helped Spain win gold in the men’s football event.
- Annette Echikunwoke: Echikunwoke was originally set to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but was ruled ineligible to compete. Following this setback, she switched her allegiance back to the United States a year later. Competing for America, she won a silver medal in the hammer throw at the Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first American woman to medal in the sport.
Echikunwoke’s perseverance and skill were finally rewarded after she missed out on the Tokyo Olympics due to negligence by Nigerian sports officials. - Salwa Eid Naser: Salwa Eid Naser, originally born as Ebelechukwu Antoinette Agbapuonwu in Nigeria, began her athletic career in her home country, where she showed great promise by winning at the Nigerian Youth Games. However, due to a lack of proper support, she switched her allegiance to Bahrain in 2014, converting to Islam and adopting her new name.
This decision has proven successful, as Naser has continued to win medals for Bahrain, including a silver medal in the women’s 400m event.
Steeze and Composure
Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec became an instant sensation for his laid-back style during competition.
The silver medallist caught attention by wearing standard glasses, a team T-shirt, and casually tucking his left hand in his pocket while competing. Unlike other athletes in the highly precise event, Dikec didn’t use any specialized equipment like headphones, special lenses, or a hat—just his pistol.
A social media post even compared him to the iconic James Bond, saying, “The name’s Dikec. Yusuf Dikec.”
South Korean Kim Y-je gained viral fame during the Paris Olympics while winning a silver medal in pistol shooting.
Her performance in the 10-meter air pistol event captured the internet’s attention, with fans praising her “aura.” Social media users were particularly struck by her futuristic glasses, earning her the nickname “smiling assassin” in her home country, as well as her calm, cool demeanor while taking her shots.
Lopez bows out with 5 gold medals
Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez made Olympic history when he became the first athlete to win five consecutive individual golds in the same event. Following this achievement, he then placed his shoes in the centre of the mat to signify his intention to retire.
“Wrestling has been the love of my life, for all of my life,” he said.
We had our proud moments too…
Despite not bringing home any medals, the Nigerian team made some historic moves at the events.
Entering the tournament as the lowest-ranked team, placed 12th in the power rankings, Dhave defied expectations by defeating the third-ranked Australian team and the fifth-ranked Canadian team, with their only loss coming against seventh-ranked France.
D’Tigress maintained their momentum into the fourth quarter, ultimately sealing the win and their historic quarterfinal spot. However, they lost to the USA.
Favour Ofili also made history as the first Nigerian since Atlanta 1996 to reach the semi-final of the 200m. Despite her season’s best of 22.05 seconds in the semi-finals, she could not make a podium finish.
