Paris 2024: Historic Feats and New Heroes Shine

Paris 2024 concluded after 16 thrilling days with a spectacular display of athleticism and history-making moments. The Games brought forth new heroes, shattered world records, and delivered unforgettable achievements. The United States topped the medal table once again, claiming the most overall medals for the seventh time in eight Olympic Games.

Great Britain matched their 2012 London tally with 65 medals, though they secured just 14 golds, their lowest count since 2004. Japan, building on their Tokyo 2020 success, secured 20 golds with eight coming from wrestling. Athletes across multiple disciplines broke world records. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record in the 400m hurdles and Sweden’s Armand Duplantis improved his own pole vault record.

In total, athletes broke 31 world records, surpassing the totals from both Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016. France’s Leon Marchand emerged as a new swimming superstar, becoming the first French athlete to win four individual golds in a single Summer Olympics. His five medals tied him with Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan and the US’s Torri Huske as the most decorated athletes at Paris 2024.

Simone Biles made a triumphant return, winning three golds and raising her career Olympic gold total to seven. Smaller nations also shone with Grenada leading the per capita medal table. India, despite sending a large contingent, finished with five bronze medals and one silver. Russia and Belarus, absent from the official medal table had selected athletes compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) under strict criteria.

AINs won medals in five events, though these did not count toward the official tally. Paris 2024 showcased close finishes and historic achievements, paving the way for Los Angeles 2028.