Celebrating the Highlights of the 2024 Paris Olympics
After nearly three weeks of thrilling competition and over 1,000 medals awarded, the Paris Olympics have concluded, marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in athletic history. From the grand opening ceremony to the symbolic handoff to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games, the Paris Games were filled with remarkable moments. Renowned athletes solidified their legacies, while emerging talents captured the hearts of fans worldwide.
In a bid to honor and reflect on the most outstanding performances and unforgettable experiences, a panel of 20 staff members from The Athletic voted to create a collection of our “Olympic Superlative” winners. This compilation is not intended to be definitive but rather a celebration of the extraordinary feats we witnessed.
Most Dominant Performance
Winner: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (five votes)
This category recognizes the athlete or team that showcased the most compelling and unequivocal Olympic campaign. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the American hurdler and sprinter, shone brightly by clinching gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a stunning world record time of 50.37 seconds. She capped off her remarkable Games with another gold in the women’s 4×400 relay, showcasing her prowess by pulling away from the competition, just shy of another world record.
Runners-up: Simone Biles and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis (three votes each)
- Simone Biles, the iconic American gymnast, made a triumphant return, securing three gold medals in team, all-around, and vault, along with a silver in the floor exercise.
- Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the Swedish pole vaulter, achieved gold in the men’s event while setting a new world record at 6.25 meters, surpassing his previous mark.
Also receiving votes:
- China’s diving team (two votes) — Dominated the diving events, winning all eight gold medals.
- Léon Marchand (two votes) — The French swimmer triumphed with four golds and one bronze.
- USA Basketball (two votes) — Continued their tradition with gold medal victories for both men and women.
- Katie Ledecky (one vote) — The American swimmer excelled with two golds, a silver, and a bronze.
- Mijain Lopez (one vote) — The Cuban wrestler made history with his fifth consecutive Olympic gold.
- South Korea’s archery team (one vote) — Swept all five golds in archery.
Breakout Star
Winner: Léon Marchand (eight votes)
This category honors the athlete who emerged as a standout figure, capturing public attention and becoming a household name during the Olympics. Léon Marchand, the 22-year-old French swimming sensation, took the Games by storm, winning four gold medals in various events — the 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, and 400 individual medley. He set Olympic records in each of these events, further solidifying comparisons to swimming legend Michael Phelps.
Runner-up: Stephen Nedoroscik (five votes)
Nedoroscik, an American gymnast and pommel horse expert, became a sensation after securing a bronze for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team, the first team medal since 2008. His charming personality and nerdy enthusiasm resonated with fans, and he also took home a bronze in the pommel horse event.
Also receiving votes:
- Summer McIntosh (four votes) — The Canadian swimmer won three golds and one silver, setting Olympic records in the process.
- Ilona Maher (two votes) — Contributed to the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team winning their first Olympic medal.
- The Woodhalls (one vote) — Tara Davis-Woodhall’s long jump gold was cheered on by her Paralympian husband, Hunter.
Best Photo
Winner: Image of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina (10 votes)
This category was for the image that most resonated with voters and encapsulated the essence of the Paris Games. Photographer Jerome Brouillet captured a viral moment of Medina celebrating after achieving the highest single wave score in Olympic history during the men’s competition. The image depicts Medina joyfully floating above the water as he triumphantly holds his arm aloft, signaling victory.
Runner-up: The Biles/Chiles Bow (eight votes)
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade celebrated her gold medal victory with a heartfelt bow alongside American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, creating a touching moment of camaraderie on the podium.
Also receiving votes:
- American sprinter Noah Lyles wins the men’s 100-meter final in a nail-biting photo finish (one vote).
- Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrating her women’s long jump final victory (one vote).
Best Viral Moment
Winner: Yusuf Dikeç’s Chill Shooting Style (six votes)
This category highlights the most shareable and meme-worthy moments from the Games. Turkish shooter Dikeç’s relaxed pose while winning silver became a sensation, with his casual demeanor, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding his pistol, inspiring countless imitations across the Olympic landscape.
Runner-up: Pommel King (four votes)
Stephen Nedoroscik’s iconic moment of removing his glasses before winning bronze became another viral highlight.
Also receiving votes:
- Appendage Accident — French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s unfortunate mishap (three votes).
- Raygun’s Breaking Routine — The Australian breakdancer’s surprising performance (three votes).
- Kim Yeji — The South Korean shooter who captivated audiences with her unique style (three votes).
- Ireland’s Emily Lane and Erin King’s incredible catch in a rugby match against Great Britain (one vote).
Biggest Upset
Winner: Cole Hocker’s Triumph in the Men’s 1,500-Meter Final (eight votes)
This category celebrates the athletes or teams that defied expectations to secure unexpected victories. The men’s 1,500-meter race was anticipated to be a showdown between favorites Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, but Hocker surprised everyone by outpacing both to claim gold.
Runners-up: A three-way tie, with each receiving three votes:
- Canada’s stunning victory in the men’s 4×100 relay, highlighted by Andre De Grasse’s impressive final leg.
- Dutch sprinter Femke Bol’s explosive performance in the mixed 4×400 relay, earning gold.
- France’s men’s rugby sevens team dethroning the reigning champions, Fiji.
Also receiving votes:
- Kristen Faulkner winning gold in the women’s cycling road race, breaking a 40-year American drought (two votes).
- Great Britain’s Toby Roberts’ surprising climbing win in men’s boulder and lead final (one vote).
Biggest Broadcast Win
Winner: “GoldZone” (seven votes)
This category recognizes what enhanced the viewing experience for audiences at home. NBC/Peacock’s “GoldZone” allowed viewers to catch multiple gold medal finishes across various events simultaneously, reminiscent of “NFL RedZone.”
Runner-up: Snoop Dogg’s Commentary The rapper’s engaging commentary became a highlight of NBC’s coverage, with fans hoping to see more of him in future broadcasts.
Also receiving votes:
- Laurie Hernandez discussing gymnastics (four votes).
- Discovery Plus (one vote).
- Clare Balding’s emotional tribute to Andy Murray after his final match (one vote).
Best Venue
Winner: Beach Volleyball Under the Eiffel Tower (14 votes)
The Paris Games were marked by iconic settings, and the beach volleyball venue beneath the Eiffel Tower received the highest praise from our voters.
Runner-up: Surfing in Tahiti (three votes)
Also receiving votes:
- Fencing at the Grand Palais (one vote).
- Cycling road race routes winding through Paris (one vote).
Best Final Farewell
Winner: Simone Biles (10 votes)
This category honored the athletes who may have participated in their final Olympic Games. Simone Biles, recognized as the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, delivered a memorable performance at 27 years old, the oldest all-around champion in over 70 years. Whether she returns for Los Angeles remains uncertain, but her legacy as the GOAT is firmly established.
Runner-up: LeBron James (five votes)
Making his fourth Olympic appearance, James earned MVP honors as the U.S. men’s team secured their fifth consecutive gold. At 39, he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, now adding a third Olympic gold medal to his accolades.
Also receiving votes:
- Andy Murray — British tennis star in his fifth Olympics (four votes).
- Rafael Nadal — Spanish tennis player competing in his fourth Olympics (one vote).
Best Feel-Good Story
Winner: Cindy Ngamba’s Historic Medal for the Olympic Refugee Team (eight votes)
Amidst various controversies during the Paris Games, uplifting stories also emerged. Ngamba, born in Cameroon and residing in the UK, reached the semifinals of the women’s 75-kilogram competition, securing a bronze medal as the first medalist for the Olympic refugee team.
Runner-up: Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin’s Playful Medal Moment (five votes)
Zhou captured hearts when she bit her medal on the podium after observing Italian gymnasts doing the same, showcasing the joy of the Games.
Also receiving votes:
- Henrik Christiansen, the Norwegian swimmer enamored with the muffins in the Olympic Village (four votes).
- Nada Hafez, the Egyptian fencer who competed while seven months pregnant (two votes).
- Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles’ bow to Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (one vote).
(Photos of Léon Marchand, Simone Biles, and Cindy Ngamba by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images; Tom Weller/VOIGT/Getty Images; Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
