Paris 2024 comes to a close, these Games that have been like a showcase, with such enduring Parisian postcards that will never be repeated. But alongside that beauty are the sporting feats, without which none of this would make sense. The names that will be remembered more than the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, or Montmartre. They will be the games of Léon Marchand, but also those of Simone Biles. A handful of heroes and also other less sports-oriented protagonists like Imane Khelif, all dominated the conversations during the two summer weeks every four years when the world speaks only in Olympic terms.
Unanimously, he is the star of the Games. The great French national hero, four gold medals (400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, and 200m medley) at La Défense pool for the boy from Toulouse. A brutal breakthrough in Olympism, approaching world records, even Emmanuel Macron was in awe of the feats of his swimmer, comparable to those of some of the greats in history, like Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz, Ian Thorpe, or Alexander Popov.
The triumph of the greatest gymnast in history in Paris is not only measured by the three gold medals around her neck: all-around, team event, and vault. It was also the ability to overcome the trauma of Tokyo, the anxiety crisis that led her to abruptly stop when she was a favorite for up to five golds at that time. At 27, she remains the queen with her message to society that does not tolerate failure. And for eternity, her reverence on the podium to the Brazilian Rebeca Andrade.
It was two golds (800m and 1,500m), but above all, it was the culmination of her myth: she is now, alongside former Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, the woman with the most Olympic titles in history (nine). She also added silver in the 4x200m relay and bronze in the 400m freestyle. Since London 2012 (when she was 15 years old), a total of 14 medals, perhaps unreachable.
"It is the greatest success of my entire career." These are the words of the emotional man who conquered 24 Grand Slam titles, perhaps the greatest tennis player of all time. But in Paris, it was special because it has been 37 years and because it was the gold he was missing. Also, for his patriotic sentiment and for being able to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Philippe Chatrier.
The 35-year-old New Zealander may not have penetrated the media radar as much, but her feat is one that cannot be overlooked. She won three gold medals in Paris in canoeing (K-4 500m, K-2 500m, and K-1 500m), each race in the Vaires-sur-Marne canal resulting in a victory, now totaling eight since London 2012.
The power of the Belgian, who had just finished third in his first Tour de France, was overwhelming and achieved what no one had ever done in the Games, gold in the time trial and also in the road race after the drama of a flat tire with four kilometers to go that did not prevent him from a unique photo in his career, triumphantly alone at Trocadero with the Eiffel Tower behind him.
In her era-defining duel with Femke Bol, the Californian once again broke the world record (50.37 seconds) to win gold in the 400m hurdles. At the Stade de France, the local frenzy was led by Mondo Duplantis and another world record in pole vault, one centimeter higher to 6.25 for the sixth time he surpasses his own mark: he battles against himself.
Athletics provided an extraordinary finale for Sunday with the women's marathon, where the Dutchwoman emulated Emil Zatopek in Helsinki '52. In addition to her gold, after an exciting finish with Tigst Assefa, she added bronzes in the 5,000m and 10,000m (in Tokyo she already ventured from the 1,500m to the 10,000m), the latter just two days ago in Saint Denis.
In his first Olympic experience, the Warriors' genius provided an enduring highlight in the tight victory of the USA Team against France in the Bercy final. With four three-pointers in the last three minutes, the last one seemingly impossible, he delivered an exhibition and gave a record to his teammate Kevin Durant, the only basketball player with four golds.