OLYMPIC GAMES
The US stars at the 2024 Olympics in Paris: Performances to remember from the city of lights
Leon Marchand, Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Noah Lyles, Armand Duplantis and LeBron James were among the most prominent athletes at Paris 2024.
Athletes from all nations dazzled in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games, each contributing to unforgettable moments that felt like scenes from a Ray Bradbury anthology. In celebration of these remarkable achievements, we’ve compiled a list of the most outstanding athletes of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad.
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Léon Marchand
If the Paris 2024 Olympic Games could tell the story of an athlete’s greatness in the La Défense Arena pool, it would undoubtedly be that of French swimmer Léon Marchand. At just 22 years old, Marchand secured five medals at the summer event—four gold and one bronze. He also set Olympic records in the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly on the same day. Furthermore, his times in the 200m and 400m individual medley now set the standard for future competitors.
Katie Ledecky
The most decorated American athlete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is Katie Ledecky, affectionately known as ‘Legendecky’ for her outstanding performance. The American swimming sensation leaves the French capital with an impressive total of 13 Olympic medals. As the U.S. flag bearer during the closing ceremony, Ledecky concluded her fourth Olympic Games by winning her fourth consecutive gold medal in the 800m freestyle event.
Summer McIntosh
The future of swimming looks bright with Summer McIntosh leading the way. At just 17 years old, the Canadian phenom competed in her second Olympic Games, earning four medals: three gold and one silver. The Toronto native set Olympic records in the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke, and also claimed gold in the 400m freestyle and silver in the 400m individual medley.
Rebeca Andrade
The one medal that eluded Simone Biles was claimed by Rebeca Andrade. The Brazilian gymnast captured gold in the floor routine and added to her medal tally with silvers in vault and the all-around, as well as a bronze in the team event. Andrade’s Olympic gold is particularly remarkable, considering she has undergone three reconstructive surgeries on the anterior cruciate ligament of her right knee.
Noah Lyles
Noah Lyles is never far from the spotlight, and the Paris Games were no exception. After claiming gold in the 100-meter sprint, the American sprinter faced an unexpected challenge in the 200-meter dash: he was battling COVID-19. Despite being infected with the virus that had paralyzed the world in 2020, Lyles managed to secure a bronze medal in what would be his final race in the French capital. His victory in track and field’s premier event also ended Team USA’s drought in the 100-meter dash, a feat last achieved by Justin Gatlin in Athens 2004.
Gabby Thomas
Gabby Thomas competed in three events at the Paris Games and won gold in all three. She first claimed victory in the 200 meters, followed by gold in the 4x100 relay, and concluded her participation with another gold in the 4x400 relay. With these achievements, Thomas became the first Harvard graduate to win an Olympic medal.
Julien Alfred
Julien Alfred made history by winning Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal, capturing gold in the 100-meter dash. The 23-year-old sprinter from the Lesser Antilles edged out favorite Sha’Carri Richardson by a mere 15 hundredths of a second, finishing with a time of 10.72. Alfred also earned a silver medal in the 200-meter race, finishing second behind Gabby Thomas.
Armand Duplantis
Armand Duplantis seems capable of clearing the Eiffel Tower if he set his mind to it. ‘Mondo’ defended his title as Olympic pole vault champion at Paris 2024 by setting a new world record of 6.25 meters. Although born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Duplantis chose to represent his mother’s homeland and has competed for the Swedish Olympic team since 2015.
Beatrice Chebet
Kenyan long-distance runner Beatrice Chebet had one thing missing from her trophy cabinet after podium finishes at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships: an Olympic medal. At the Paris Olympics, the 24-year-old filled that gap by winning two gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m events. Before Paris, Chebet made history at the Prefontaine Classic by becoming the first woman to run 10 km in under 29 minutes.
LeBron James
All signs suggest that the Paris 2024 Olympics may be LeBron James’ swan song. ‘The King’ departed as the only player in Olympic history with two triple-doubles and was named MVP of the men’s basketball tournament. He led Team USA to victory over France in the final, securing his third gold medal in four Olympic appearances.
Diana Tuarasi
The Team USA women’s basketball team endured a tough battle to secure their eighth consecutive gold medal, narrowly defeating France 67-66. In the process, Diana Taurasi won her sixth consecutive gold medal. The 42-year-old veteran played in the group stage games against Belgium, Japan, and Germany. However, her role was limited in the quarterfinals against Nigeria and the semifinal against Australia, and she did not see any court time during the final against France.
