Simone Biles, Leon Marchand, Steph Curry, Nadalcaraz - The stars that defined an epic 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games delivered unforgettable moments across 329 events, with athletes shattering records and redefining greatness. From Simone Biles' iconic sportsmanship to Leon Marchand's historic swims, the French Games were packed with emotional and sensational moments. Let's re-live some of the stardust these stars sprinkled on the Parisian summer.

Tom Cruise jumps into the Stade De France at closing ceremony

Video credit: TNT Sports

And breathe. After some 10,500 athletes battled in 329 events across two and a half weeks, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are finally over.

Records were broken, dreams were realised, tears were shed, as the XXXIII Olympiad provided a host of thrilling episodes. But who makes our cut for the main stars of the show?

For anyone wondering 'where's the Turkish shooter?' and 'how could you ignore Bob the Cap Catcher?', don't panic, we've rounded up the best viral moments here.

Olympic Games Paris 2024

Inaugural Olympic Esports Games to be held in Riyadh in 2027 – Road to the Games to start this year

15/02/2025 at 09:59

Meanwhile, for the best Team GB moments, just head here.

Let's crack on, shall we...

SIMONE BILES (USA - ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS)

You might think that adding three Olympic gold medals to an already impressive collection gives you permission to hog the limelight.

But fresh from rocking an unavoidably excellent GOAT necklace after winning the women's all-around title, Simone Biles was soon back on the podium to collect silver in the floor competition before playing her part in the* iconic photo of the Games.

Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jordan Chiles, Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Image credit: Getty Images

Biles and American team-mate Jordan Chiles bowed down either side of Brazilian champion Rebeca Andrade, an incredible act of sportsmanship that came just minutes after Biles was denied her eighth Olympic title.

Chiles was later stripped of her bronze after a shock ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but the photo - and its power - will never be taken away.

It was a triumphant return for Biles, who banished memories of the Tokyo 'twisties' to further cement her legacy as the greatest gymnast to ever do it.

(*OK, the second most iconic photo after that viral surfing snap in Tahiti)

LEON MARCHAND (FRANCE - SWIMMING)

Paris Golden Moments: Marchand wows Macron and France with fourth gold in pool

Video credit: TNT Sports

Be honest: had you heard of Leon Marchand three weeks ago?

Swimming ultras will rightly tut in disgust, pointing to his success in the pool at the last two World Championships, but no one has launched into the stratosphere quite like France's new hero.

Four gold medals. Four Olympic records. A historic butterfly-breaststroke combo on the same night.

He can even claim credit for delaying the athletes at the Stade de France, some 10 miles away, after boisterous fans - some of whom had shelled out €690 a ticket - willed him on via their smartphones as a collection of bemused decathletes awaited the start of the 400 metres.

Not even the great Michael Phelps can claim to have done that.

'NADALCARAZ' (SPAIN - TENNIS)

Carlos Alcaraz had only just celebrated his second birthday when Rafael Nadal won the French Open for the first time. Flash forward 19 years and the pair were playing together at the Olympics and putting on the most raucous of shows.

Yes, they only won two matches together in Paris but never has the spotlight shone so brightly on doubles.

If this is farewell for Nadal, it was a beautiful way to go out - a last hurrah on his fabled red dirt alongside a player many tip to be the next 'King of Clay'.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz had to content himself with silver in the singles after coming up against an inspired Novak Djokovic in the final. His tearful interview with Eurosport's Alex Corretja only served to endear him to everyone even more.

Overcome Alcaraz forced to walk away from interview after Djokovic loss in Olympic final

Video credit: TNT Sports

SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE (USA - ATHLETICS)

It was hyped as a two-horse race, the fastest women of all time battling it out once and for all. By the time the race entered the back bend, there was only one woman in it.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone obliterated her own world record in the 400m hurdles as she made Femke Bol look ordinary, just days after the Dutch superstar had single-handedly carried her nation to victory in the 4x400m mixed relay.

It's now unavoidable that McLaughlin-Levrone is the new Usain Bolt of the track.

Watch dazzling run as McLaughlin-Levrone smashes her own world record in 400m hurdles

Video credit: TNT Sports

Her latest run, clocked at 50.37 seconds, was so quick that it was only 2.77s off the long-standing 400m world record - despite 10 hurdles blocking her path. Could the double beckon at LA 2028?

CINDY NGAMBA (REFUGEE OLYMPIC TEAM - BOXING)

Cindy Ngamba, welcome to history.

The 25-year-old trailblazer delivered the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris, winning bronze in the women's 75kg boxing.

It could have been even better had a split-decision in the semi-final fallen her way, but her legacy is assured.

'Keep on believing there's always light at the end of the tunnel' - Ngamba on her life journey

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ngamba moved to the UK from Cameroon aged 11 before discovering her passion for boxing.

She won three national titles across three divisions - but, despite repeated attempts by her and GB Boxing, she is still fighting for British citizenship.

NEW SPRINT HEROES (ATHLETICS)

Prior to Paris 2024, the Caribbean island of St Lucia, home to just 180,000, had never celebrated an Olympic medal.

Then Julian Alfred produced the most significant 10.72 seconds in her nation's history. Alfred ripped away from Sha'Carri Richardson to win the women's 100m title - arguably the biggest gold medal of them all.

Watch women's 100m final as Alfred storms to glorious gold medal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Five days later, Letsile Tebogo delivered Botswana's first ever gold, in the men's 200m, after decimating a field that contained (the admittedly Covid-hampered) Noah Lyles.

Such was the impact of Alfred and Tebogo, that their respective national leaders announced public holidays to commemerate their success.

Tebogo says he can't be 'face of athletics' like 'arrogant, loud' Lyles

Video credit: TNT Sports

REMCO EVENEPOEL (BELGIUM - ROAD CYCLING)

After racing through the slippery streets of the French capital to seal gold in the men's individual time trial, and breaking clear from a bunch of favourites in the road race, history beckoned for Remco Evenepoel.

No man had ever completed the road double; Evenepoel was on the cusp. Then, with 4km to go, disaster struck. A rear-wheel puncture. Would it derail his dream?

'An iconic image' - Evenepoel with memorable celebration after sealing double gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

Not at all, it turned out. The dramatic hiccup only served to highlight Evenepoel's domination as he duly swapped bikes before coming home over a minute ahead of his closest rivals and giving us one of the most iconic celebrations of the Games.

TEDDY RINER (FRANCE - JUDO)

Marchand may own the most recognisable face in France right now after his golden Games, but he was not the poster boy carrying the weight of a nation.

That burden fell on judoka Teddy Riner, who was first trusted to light the Olympic cauldron in the opening ceremony alongside legendary sprinter Marie-Jose Perec, then tasked with delivering double gold for the expectant hosts. He did exactly that.

After surviving some crazy antics from Georgia's Guram Tushishvili on his run to the men's +100kg final, including a kick to the groin, Riner saw off South Korea's Kim Min-jong in the final. But the best was yet to come.

Just 24 hours later, Riner inspired France to the mixed team title - sealing a wild French comeback from 3-0 down against Japan after outlasting Tatsuru Saito in the most epic golden score tiebreaker.

'He's done it in style' - Riner celebrates as French fans go wild after judo gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

MIJAIN LOPEZ (CUBA - WRESTLING)

Mijain Lopez is destined to be a trivia answer for years to come after his fifth consecutive gold medal in the same event - the first time any athlete has done so.

The Cuban won the men's Greco-Roman 130kg title to take his place in history, adding to triumphs in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo, before symbolically leaving his wrestling shoes in the middle of the mat after his final bout to signal the end of a glorious career.

Lopez might not be alone in the history books for very long, however, because...

KATIE LEDECKY (USA - SWIMMING)

Katie Ledecky is up to third in the all-time rankings of successful Olympians after two more gold medals in Paris took her total to nine.

The highlight came in her beloved 800m freestyle as she eased past Australian superstar Ariarne Titmus to make it four titles on the spin in the event, a run dating back to London.

'Very special indeed' - Legend Ledecky makes history with ninth Olympic gold medal

Video credit: TNT Sports

With the Olympics heading to Los Angeles in 2028, could Ledecky be tempted to go for that 10th gold medal and usurp former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as the most successful woman in Olympic history?

She would need to enter 14 events - and win them all - to go clear of Michael Phelps at the top, though...

SIFAN HASSAN (NETHERLANDS - ATHLETICS)

It's widely agreed that the perfect marathon prep involves tapering in the final few weeks before race day. No one told Sifan Hassan.

On August 5, she won bronze in the 5000m. On August 9, she won bronze in the 10,000m. And on August 11, Hassan struck gold in the marathon.

'Almost a clash, elbows out!' - Hassan breaks clear of Assefa in brilliant finish to marathon

Video credit: TNT Sports

Not since Emil Zapotek at the 1952 Games have we seen a long-distance runner so versatile, and brilliant, as Hassan.

She may have had a more successful Tokyo Games on paper - two golds (5,000, 10,000m) and a bronze (1500m) - but given her step up to the marathon in Paris, this latest feat is far more impressive.

STEPH CURRY (USA - BASKETBALL)

When Noah Lyles uttered his infamous "world champions of what?!" broadside at American basketball, little did he know how much it would rattle them.

That one of the first tweets from the official USA Basketball account after the thrilling win over France in men's final referenced the comment - incorrectly, given Germany are actually world champions - shows how much it had riled them all.

But despite still failing to grasp how global competitions work, USA were mightily impressive as they claimed men's gold. And it's largely down to one man: Steph Curry.

Watch as Curry sinks unbelievable three-pointer and goes wild as USA seal gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

With three minutes remaining of the final, the United States led France 82-79. Then Curry took over. Four sensational, clutch three-pointers deflated the hosts as the favourites came home 98-87.

ARMAND DUPLANTIS (SWEDEN - ATHLETICS)

Pole vault might not be the most glamorous of athletics' disciplines - but it's proving awfully lucrative for Armand Duplantis.

Watch as Lyles storms Duplantis' Eurosport interview in amusing bromance

Video credit: TNT Sports

Each event follows the same pattern: Duplantis cruises to victory, then asks for the bar to be hoisted one centimetre above the world record in the knowledge a bumper cheque awaits a successful clearance.

The Swede can look forward to another cheque arriving in the mail after he set his ninth world record in Paris, clearing 6.25m with his third and final attempt in the Stade de France.

Athletics was supposedly lacking big names to carry it in the post-Bolt era, but with track queen McLaughlin-Levrone and field king Duplantis, there's no need to be worried.

ANTOINE DUPONT (FRANCE - RUGBY SEVENS)

Dupont pulls off stunning run and offload as France score against Fiji in final

Video credit: TNT Sports

It's half-time in the men's gold medal match in the rugby sevens. Hosts France are locked 7-7 with defending champions Fiji. They turn to their trump card: Antoine Dupont.

Just 21 seconds after the restart, Dupont sets a teammate away to score. Now the floodgates open.

Dupont adds two more tries. France win 28-7. And it's all thanks to the man who paused his XV career to pursue his Olympic dream.

---

Catch up on every moment of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on discovery+.

Olympic Games Paris 2024

Viral moments of Paris 2024: Which unexpected Olympic heroes were crowned internet champions?

12/08/2024 at 11:20

Olympics

Nordic combined dropped from 2030 Winter Olympics schedule

07/07/2026 at 18:43