2024 has been filled with several moments of sporting excellence and the Paris Olympics was no exception.
Here are the 5 biggest moments and highlights of the standout Olympics in Paris.
Djokovic wins first Olympic gold medal
After falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic made a stunning comeback, defeating the 21-year-old Spaniard in straight sets (7-6, 7-6) at the Paris Olympics on August 4.
The thrilling match, which went to tiebreakers in both sets, saw both players give their absolute best.
Notably, Olympic gold was the only major title in tennis that had eluded Djokovic till he captured the ultimate prize.
Simone Biles leads Team USA to gold in women’s gymnastics final
Led by the unstoppable Simone Biles, Team USA secured a decisive victory with a total score of 171.296 points, outpacing Italy and Brazil. The triumph was all the more impressive given Jordan Chiles’ early stumble on the beam, which could have derailed the team’s momentum.
Instead, Team USA rallied to claim gold, marking a resounding comeback from their silver medal finish in Tokyo, where Biles’ unexpected withdrawal had impacted the team’s performance
Sha’Carri Richardson helps Team USA win gold in the women’s 4x100m relay
Team USA’s track and field dominance continued as the women’s 4x100m relay team clinched the gold medal. The quartet, consisting of Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, Gabby Thomas, and the phenomenal Sha’Carri Richardson, delivered a thrilling performance.
Richardson, running the anchor leg, trailed athletes from Great Britain and Germany when she received the baton, but she swiftly erased the deficit, sprinting past her opponents amidst the rainy conditions at Stade de France to secure the victory.
Noah Lyles wins gold in men’s 100m
In a scorching 100-meter final, Noah Lyles secured the gold medal, ending a 20-year drought for American sprinters. Lyles’ victory marked the first time an American had claimed the top spot in the event since Justin Gatlin’s win in 2004.
The 27-year-old sprinter edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second in a heart-stopping photo finish. Fred Kerley, another American, took home the bronze medal, rounding out an impressive showing for the US team.
Steph Curry dazzles to lead Team USA to Olympic basketball
The United States men’s basketball team captured their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, defeating France 98-87 in a thrilling finale. Steph Curry’s clutch shooting and the Americans’ lightning-fast transition attack proved too much for the French to handle.
Curry led the team with 24 points, while Kevin Durant and Devin Booker added 15 points each, and LeBron James contributed 14.
The decisive factor was the US team’s devastating fast-break attack, which outscored France 31-9 in transition points. France had narrowed the gap to 82-79 late in the fourth quarter, but Curry took over, sinking four 3-pointers in the final three minutes to seal the victory.
As he hit the final dagger, Curry taunted the Bercy Arena crowd with his signature “night, night” gesture.
