Historical Moments from The 2024 Paris Olympics
Every four years, individuals from around the world gather in front of their computers, TVs, and mobile screens to witness the greatest athletes push the boundaries of human performance during the Olympics. These athletes all set out for the goal of winning a prestigious gold medal and etching their names into history. With that goal, Olympians shatter records and create historical moments. In this list, we highlight historical moments that have taken place in the 2024 Olympics.
Africa's First Gymnastics Medal
Entering into the Olympic games in Paris, a gymnastics podium appearance had long evaded the continent of Africa. However, this drought was officially ended by an unexpected competitor. On Aug. 4, Kaylia Nemour of Algeria made history by achieving gold in the women’s uneven bar competition. Originally from France, a dispute with the French National team drove Nemour to compete for Algeria, where her father is from. Nemour’s rousing performance earned her a score of 15.7, the highest score in any gymnastics competition up to that point in the Paris Olympics.
Photo by James Hill, The New York Times
The Paris Olympics had several monumental moments for Africa’s basketball community. One of the most notable moments was Nigeria’s women’s basketball team breaking through and making the knockout round. This is the first African team for both men and women that have advanced past the group matches. With this accomplishment, players such as Ezinne Kalu, who won the AfroBasket MVP award in 2019, can stand with immense pride, clinching history for an entire continent.
Photo by Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
After a successful score appeal launched by the United States’ gymnastics team, Jordan Chiles finished with the bronze medal in the women’s gymnastics floor exercise. Chiles joined fellow American gymnast Simone Biles and Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade to create the first all-Black podium in gymnastics history. Andrade and Biles specifically have shared fierce moments against one another in Paris, finishing first and second in multiple events. As a sign of immense respect, Biles and Chiles bowed to Andrade in their podium picture. Overall, it was an iconic moment for gymnastics and sports.
Update: Jordan Chiles has been asked to return her bronze medal from the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a controversial ruling. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) determined that her coach’s inquiry into her score was submitted four seconds late, leading to the reversal of her score increase. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then decided to reallocate the medal to Romania’s Ana Barbosu. However, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee are appealing this decision.
Photo by Gabriel Bouys, Getty Images
United States Wins Gold in Men's 100 Meter Race for the First Time in 20 Years
Following an Olympic era marked by Usain Bolt’s dominance, the United States reigns supreme once again in the 100-meter race. Noah Lyles, a short-distance juggernaut, beat out Jamaica’s Kishane Thomspon in a photo finish that became one of the most suspenseful moments of the Olympics. With this accomplishment, Lyles provides evidence to support his claim as the fastest man in the world, bringing the 100-meter gold medal back to the United States for the first time in 20 years.
Photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat, Getty Images
Katie Ledecky Becomes the Most Decorated Woman in Olympic History
United States swimming icon Katie Ledecky broke the record for the most medals for a woman in Olympic history. Entering the Olympics with 10 medals overall, she only needed three more medals to break the three-way tie at 12. Ledecky broke the record in the 4x200 meter freestyle with a silver medal. After the 2024 Olympics, Ledecky now stands as the fifth most decorated Olympian of all time, and second in the United States, trailing only Michael Phelps.
Photo by Grace Hollars, USA TODAY Sports
Annette Echikunwoke Wins First Medal for Team USA Women's Hammer Throwing
Three years ago in Tokyo, Annette Echikunwoke attempted to compete for Nigeria, believing that she would not be able to keep up with the United States Olympic hammer throwers, according to The Washington Post. However, due to the mishandling of her drug tests by the NOC, she was unable to compete. After her arduous Olympic setback in 2021, Echikunwoke was finally able to display her prowess in the hammer throwing competition, winning silver with a distance of 75.48 meters. With her first podium appearance, she proved that her previous worries were unfounded as she made history for the United States.
Photo by Patrick Smith, Getty Images
United States Wins its 3,000 Medal
Early on in the Paris Olympics, the United States reached the benchmark of 3,000 gold medals. This achievement displays an elite level of dedication to excellence, passed on by generations of American athletes. The standard set by the first United States gold medalist James Brendan Connolly, has been routinely upheld by thousands of athletes competing under the United States flag. Currently leading the Paris Olympics in both gold and total medals, the United States is continuing its dominance that has defined its illustrious history.
Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand, Getty Images
This concludes our listing of some of the historical moments that have taken place during the 2024 Olympics. With the gathering of the world’s best athletes, monumental moments can occur, and the 2024 Olympics were no different. With the games closing, these moments only increase the anticipation to watch these athletes again in 2028.