The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have officially ended, and in their wake, they left a host of unforgettable memories and moments.
The event was a record-breaking hit for NBC, which has its exclusive media rights until 2032, with a reported average of 34 million viewers consuming prime-time coverage. An increase of 79 percent from the previous Tokyo Games.
Paris was also a breakthrough in terms of gender equality, being the first of its kind to feature full gender parity due to the International Olympic Committee enforcing a 50/50 quota on athletes.
Relive some of the most memorable, awe-inspiring, hilarious, and emotional moments of the 2024 celebration with this list.
#1 Turkey’s Real-Life “John Wick” Became An Overnight Sensation For His Masterful Shooting And “Cool” Attitude
The air pistol competition became a meme-making machine after Turkey’s Yusuf Dikeç amazed everyone with his professional and relaxed attitude.
Viewers compared him to secret agents and hitmen from famous movies, with some labeling him the real-life “John Wick.”
While his rivals competed with modern accessories and sights and struck dramatic poses before their shots, Dikeç relied only on his reading glasses and nonchalantly put his hand in his pocket before shooting, effortlessly winning the silver medal.
The 51-year-old marksman is a retired member of the Turkish Gendarmerie and has been competing since 2001, earning 30 medals across various international championships.
Image credits: Olympic Games
#2 Brazilian Surfer Gabriel Medina Switched The Waves For The Clouds In Incredible Photo As He Thanked God For His Victory
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina delivered a stunning performance in round three of the shortboard surfing competition, with an almost perfect score of 9.9 points.
Propelled by the waves, the athlete celebrated by jumping off his surfboard and pointing to the sky with his index finger, a trademark of Brazilian evangelical athletes for more than 40 years.
Photographer Jérôme Brouillet captured the moment perfectly with an image that sees Medina magically standing atop a cloud, thanking God for his achievement.
Image credits: ddp
#3 The Moon Appears To Be Nestled Inside The Olympic Rings In Perfect Photo Now Displayed At The Louvre
A spectacular sight was captured ahead of the event when the moon lined up perfectly with the Olympic rings displayed at the Eiffel Tower.
Fans voted for the beautiful photo to be added to The Louvre, and the official X account of the Olympic Games confirmed it in a post on August 11, 2024.
“You voted and we hung in The Louvre. Check out 'Moon plays ball' in the virtual gallery of @museelouvre.
The Olympic Games of #Paris2024 has made their mark in history, connecting the world for the joy of sport.”
Image credits: Rose/Getty
#4 Mysterious Masked Torchbearer Stuns Paris With Daring Rooftop Relay Run
Appearing like a character straight out of a video game, a mysterious torchbearer ran on top of the Musee d’Orsay in dramatic fashion to deliver the flame to former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane.
Inspired by the character Arno Dorian from the videogame Assassin’s Creed Unity, the mysterious runner was later revealed to be Simon Nogueira, a French free-running champion.
Image credits: Peter Cziborra - Pool/Getty
#5 Team USA’s Simone Biles And Jordan Chiles Celebrating Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade’s Victory In A Heartwarming Moment
Team USA gymnastics stars Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles left Olympic viewers in awe after a moving display of sportsmanship extended to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who came ahead of them in the floor exercise competition, winning gold for her country.
With her victory and sixth medal (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), Andrade has become the most decorated Brazilian Olympian, beating her compatriots Robert Scheidt (2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze) and Torben Grael (2 silver and 2 bronze).
Biles and Chiles, who won the bronze and silver medals, respectively, knelt in honor of the South American winner, smiling and sharing in her victory as the audience erupted in applause.
Image credits: Elsa/Getty
#6 Snoop Dogg Surpasses His Fear Of Horses As He And Martha Stewart Attend A Dressage Competition
The rapper and the writer attended the Olympic dressage competition in full costume, even though Snoop Dogg had confessed to a fear of horses before the event.
“I am interested in the horses that dance and I want to give them some carrots and apples, make sure they’re fed before they do their thing,” he said in an interview.
For NBC, who owns the exclusive media rights for the Olympics until 2032, Snoop Dogg’s role as a correspondent has been a massive boon.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by his popularity, but you never underestimate Snoop Dogg. He’s this wonderful mix of swagger and positivity,” said Molly Solomon, executive Olympics producer to the Associated Press.
Image credits: Mike Egerton/Getty
#7 Random Lifeguard Became An Unexpected Hero After Saving The Day By Retrieving Lost Cap In Colorful Trunks
The women’s 100m breaststroke event was saved from a potential mishap when “Bob, the Cap Catcher,” appeared out of nowhere to retrieve a lost swimming cap from the bottom of the pool between rounds.
The random lifeguard became a viral sensation due to his colorful trunks and average physique, winning the hearts of the audience as he emerged from the pool with Team USA’s Emma Weber’s lost item.
Like a true superhero, he disappeared soon after saving the day, leaving fans to wonder about his true identity.
Image credits: Olympic Games
#8 China’s Huang Ya Qiong Returned Home With A Gold Medal And An Engagement Ring
Love took center stage at the event after China’s Huang Ya Qiong’s badminton mixed doubles victory earned her not only the gold medal but also an unexpected engagement ring.
Right after the medal ceremony concluded, the crowd held its breath for a moment when, suddenly, men’s doubles player Liu Yuchen surprised Huang with a bouquet of flowers and a marriage proposal.
“For me, the proposal is very surprising because I have been preparing for the game,” Huang said. “Today I am an Olympic champion and I was proposed to, so that’s something I didn’t expect,” she shared.
Image credits: Julian Finney/Getty
#9 American Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik Went Viral After He Removed His Glasses To Deliver A Clutch Medal-Winning Performance
“Arrive. Pommel. Leave,” reads just one of the many memes created in the wake of Stephen Nedoroscik’s captivating pommel horse performance for Team USA gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With his nerdy look concealing a well-toned physique, he immediately drew “Clark Kent” comparisons after removing his glasses to ace the competition.
The athlete secured the first-ever bronze medal for the US men’s gymnastics team in 16 years.
Image credits: Jamie Squire/Getty
#10 Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem Inspired Millions Around The World After Winning Gold Despite Growing In Poverty And Training Under Harsh Conditions
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem became his country’s national champion, hero and role model after he won the Olympic gold medal in javelin throw in a heartwarming triumph that follows a lifetime of hardship, dedication and the relentless pursuit of happiness.
No matter how stacked the odds might’ve been against him, Nadeem overcame them all. Growing up in poverty and training under the 45-degree sun of his homeland, the 6’3 champion kept going forward until he became the country’s first medalist in 32 years and its first ever track and field gold medalist.
Image credits: Finney/Getty
#11 The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan Shatters Records And Challenges France's Hijab Ban At The Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony
The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan delivered an incredible burst in the final 250 meters of the women’s marathon, securing gold with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55.
Additionally, the 31-year-old Olympian was particularly admired for choosing to wear a hijab during the closing ceremony, a move many considered a slap in the face of France’s controversial ban against wearing the headwear during competition.
“No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear,” said Marta Hurtado, a spokesperson for the UN's Human Rights Office.
Image credits: Jamie Squire/Getty
#12 Team USA’s Lyles Snatches The Gold Medal Away From Jamaica’s Thompson By Mere Inches In Heart-Stopping Finale
Team USA’s Noah Lyles faced the greatest challenge of his career when he faced Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson at the Olympic 100m final.
Despite a slow reaction to the starting gun, Lyles’ remarkable top speed propelled him from eighth to third place at an impressive 43.6 km/h peak.
Thompson had already reached his own top-performing pace by then, and he led from the 25m mark all the way until the 95m mark, which was when Lyles’ superior stamina and a slight lean forward granted him the win.
Image credits: Michael Reaves/Getty
#13 Spain’s Adrian Abadia And Nicolas Garcia Decorate Olympic Rings With Their Bodies In Impressive Performance
Spain’s Adrián Abadía and Nicolás García may not have taken home any medals, but they were immortalized in a beautiful photo that sees them frame the Olympic rings logo like a couple of dolphins.
“I can only thank all the people who have made this possible. To all the coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, all my friends and of course all my family,” Abadía wrote on his Instagram page.
“These last months of preparation have been very hard, but I’m proud we got to Paris in a good place to compete. We return home with a 6th place con mi amigo @nicogboissier happier than ever.”
Image credits: Rooney/Getty
#14 Imane Khelif And Lin Yu-Ting Rise To The Top Of The Women’s Boxing Competition Despite Controversy Surrounding Their Gender
Boxers Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan won the gold medals in the welterweight and featherweight classes of the women’s division of the sport amid a gender eligibility controversy between the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the International Olympics Committee (IOC).
According to tests done by the IBA, the boxers were reported to have an advantage due to possessing XY chromosomes. The IOC considered these tests to be invalid and reaffirmed the athletes as cis-gendered women, considering any further inquiry into their biology to be discriminatory.
Despite the controversy, their respective countries celebrated their victories with enthusiasm, choosing them as flag bearers for the closing ceremony of the games.
Image credits: Pelham/Getty
#15 Lebron James And Coco Gauff Lead Team USA’s Iconic Boat Arrival At Paris Olympics
Basketball icon LeBron James and tennis idol Cori “Coco” Gauff served as Team USA’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the event, which saw them arrive at the venue in a boat alongside their fellow American athletes.
The vessel was a trademark craft of Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, France’s most famous boat operator, whose tours date all the way back to World War II.
Image credits: Rex Features
