10 Big Moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics were a rollercoaster of excitement, controversy, and unforgettable moments. From a rain-soaked opening ceremony to record-breaking performances, AFP Sport highlights ten of the most memorable events from this spectacular Games. 1. `Rain on Opening Ceremony Parade` The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics was meant to dazzle, but it became infamous for an unexpected reason—a rain-soaked boat parade on the River Seine. The ceremony drew widespread criticism for a scene involving drag queens and a lesbian DJ, which some saw as a parody of religious imagery. Artistic director Thomas Jolly faced intense online backlash and police complaints, although he denied any disrespectful intentions. 2. `Djokovic’s Roar of Approval` Novak Djokovic’s victory in the men’s tennis final was nothing short of spectacular. Defeating Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic completed the Golden Slam, having won all four major tennis titles plus Olympic gold. The 37-year-old Serbian celebrated with an emotional roar and a touching embrace with his family. “There is no greater inspiration than representing your country,” Djokovic said, reflecting on his historic achievement. 3. `Biles Bows to ‘Queen’ Andrade` Simone Biles, the star gymnast of the Games, showed extraordinary sportsmanship by bowing to Rebeca Andrade on the podium. Despite finishing behind Andrade, Biles expressed deep respect for her rival. Andrade’s floor routine earned her gold, with Biles and Jordan Chiles taking silver and bronze respectively. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later awarded bronze to Ana Barbosu, following a ruling on Chiles’s placement. 4. `Lyles Just in Time` In a thrilling men’s 100m final, Noah Lyles secured gold with a photo-finish victory. His time of 9.79 seconds narrowly edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just five thousandths of a second. Lyles’s triumph, described as the closest finish in modern history, was a testament to his incredible speed and determination. “I’m the man amongst all of them,” Lyles proclaimed, celebrating his well-earned win. 5. `Not Cricket as Pakistan Tops India at Javelin` Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem made history by winning the men’s javelin title with a Games record of 92.97 meters. It was Pakistan’s first individual gold at the Olympics, and Nadeem’s victory was a notable moment in the ongoing sports rivalry with India, where defending champion Neeraj Chopra finished second. Nadeem highlighted the positive impact of their rivalry, stating it could inspire youth in both countries.

6. `North-South Korea Podium Selfie Goes Viral` A heartwarming moment emerged when table tennis players from North Korea and South Korea took a selfie together on the podium. The image, capturing a rare moment of cross-border unity, went viral. South Korean Lim Jong-hoon snapped the photo with North Korea’s Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong, along with the victorious Chinese team. The selfie, featuring both Korean flags and a Samsung phone, symbolized a hopeful gesture of peace. 7. `Dreams Come Trew` At just 14 years old, Australian skateboarding prodigy Arisa Trew captured gold in the women’s park event. Her high-risk, high-speed performance, marked by her trademark pink helmet, delighted the crowd at Place de la Concorde. Trew’s victory made her Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medallist. The event also showcased 11-year-old Zheng Haohao, China’s youngest Olympic athlete. 8. `Gender-Row Boxer Beats ‘Bullying’ Algerian boxer Imane Khelif used her platform to address the controversy surrounding her participation. After being disqualified from the previous world championships due to gender eligibility issues, Khelif claimed gold in Paris and firmly asserted her identity. “I am a woman like any other,” she declared, confronting the bullying and challenges she faced.

9. `High Five for Cuban Wrestler` Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez made Olympic history by winning five consecutive gold medals in the same event. The 42-year-old’s achievement surpassed legends like Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps. After his final victory, Lopez placed his shoes in the center of the mat, signaling his retirement. “Wrestling has been the love of my life,” Lopez said, bidding farewell to the sport. 10. `Cool Hand Yusuf` Turkish shooting silver medallist Yusuf Dikec became an overnight sensation for his relaxed competition style. Sporting standard glasses and casually tucking his left hand in his pocket, Dikec’s laid-back demeanor stood out in the high-pressure environment of Olympic shooting. These moments from the 2024 Paris Olympics captured the essence of competition, triumph, and human spirit. Whether it was breaking records, overcoming controversy, or showing solidarity, these highlights will be remembered for years to come.