These 10 athletes have made the 2024 Olympics absolutely unforgettable.
The Olympic Games celebrate diversity, sports, and humanity while also representing a new venture for France since it’s the largest event it has ever hosted. Competitions take place across 35 venues until August 11. The Paralympic Games start on August 28 and conclude on September 8. There are over 10,000 athletes across 206 teams, including a Refugee Olympic Team, and for the first time in its history, there is gender parity.
These 10 athletes have spent most of their lives preparing to break records, and that’s exactly what they did. Competitors such as Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnasts of all time, and Nada Hafez competed while being seven months pregnant. After 16 years, women will be allowed to surf the barrel waves in Teahupo’o, Tahiti. Noah Lyes, the American track and field sprinter, became the fastest man in the world by winning 100-meter gold medal in Paris. Here’s a list of other athletes who have Olympic history.
Simone Biles
Photo by @gqfranceSimone Biles is one of the most respected athletes around the world and was the first American gymnast to succeed at the individual all-around competition twice, eight years apart. Currently, she has 10 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals. After winning silver in Tokyo 2020, Biles, who is now the most decorated gymnast of all time, led her team to gold on July 30th.
Suni Lee
Photo by @usagymSuni Lee is the first Hmong-American Olympian and has secured three medals, one gold and two bronzes, in her career thus far. Lee is also the first Asian-American to win the individual all-around event. Biles and Lee were the only two gold medalists to ever compete against each other, marking a significant day for history books.
Stephen Nedoroscik
Photo by @VoguemagazineStephen Nedoroscik brought home the team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years. Nedorooscik turned into an overnight sensation for his nearly perfect score on the pommel horse, one of the most difficult moves in men’s gymnastics. Being the last event in the final competition, there was a lot of pressure, but his almost decade-long experience ultimately led his team to bronze.
Nada Hafez
Photo by @Nada_hafezNada Hafez shocked millions when she revealed her 7-month pregnancy after competing in the Paris Olympics. Hafez didn’t provide further details as to why she kept it a secret, but it’s speculated to be due to possible pregnancy discrimination. The Egyptian saber fencer is a three-time Olympian and a former NCAA champion.
Katie Ledecky
Photo by @katieledecky on InstagramKathleen Ledecky became the first woman to achieve four consecutive gold medals in one event, following Michael Phelps, who won eight. She has secured nine Olympic and 21 championship gold medals, making her the most decorated female competitive swimmer in history. Ledecky destroyed the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle in 15:30, beating her old record by five seconds.
Léon Marchand
Photo by @Voguemagazine on InstagramLéon Marchand turned into the fourth swimmer to win four gold medals in one single event, which included a 200-meter medley, 200-meter breaststroke, 200-meter butterfly, and 400-meter medley. Trained by Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps’ former coach, Marchand has gained massive speed from one of the best mentors in the history of swimming.
Ryan Murphy
Photo by @ryan_f_murphy on InstagramRyan Murphy secured a bronze medal on July 29th, making him the first since 1972 to receive a 100-meter backstroke award in three consecutive Olympics. He previously scored bronze in Tokyo 2020 and gold in Rio de Janeiro 2016 for the same event. Murphy is also a former world-record holder for the men’s 100-meter backstroke.
Jessica Fox
Photo by @jessfoxcanoe on InstagramJessica Fox became the first Australian canoeist to win four consecutive Olympic medals in the same event. She demolished both C-1 and K-1 competitions, winning herself a gold medal. Fox won bronze at Tokyo 2020, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and silver in London 2012, making her the most decorated canoeist in history.
Lim Si-hyeon
Photo by @messimaniaa on InstagramLim Si-hyeon had nearly flawless aim in the women’s archery individual preliminary round, scoring 694 out of 720. She crushed the individual, team, and mixed team events, winning three gold medals. Kim Woo-jin teamed up with Si-hyeon in the mixed competition and Jeon Hun-young and Nam Su-hyeon in the team event.
Gabriel Medina
Photo by @Voguemagazine InstagramGabriel Medina wiped out competitors with an astonishing 9.90, the highest Olympic single-wave score. He is a Brazilian professional surfer who is considered one of the most experienced out there. Medina got his iconic picture taken by photographer Jerome Brouillet, who caught the moment he seemingly was floating next to his board.
