The Olympics 2024 were held in Paris, France. They were, so to say, eventful. As a Greek, I feel so distraught by the games’ version of the opening ceremony. Usually, it is more about the roots and the history of the games, while also being very ritualistic. Don’t get me wrong, the event was very well-organised and all, but if I could, I would have changed some details. With all this in mind, there were some moments throughout the very note-worthy games. Here are some of our favourite ones.
Kangaroo Breakdancing
B-girl Raygun, also known as Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, made waves on the internet following her brief but unforgettable appearance on stage at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She demonstrated some odd skills in head-to-head matches against breakdancers from the USA, France, and Lithuania, including kangaroo hopping and ground swimming which mirrors the actual swimming present at the Olympics.
World record pole vault
The Swedish pole vaulter, Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, set a new world record by flying over the bar at a height of 6.25 meters. Duplantis has now broken the world record nine times, surpassing his record of 6.24 meters set in the Xiamen Diamond League in April 2024. This is not the only part that made everyone a bit jealous: following his jump, he made a beeline directly for his (now engaged) girlfriend, Desiré Inglander, who was waiting in the stands.
Ring in river
Another event that made us feel single is when Gianmarco Tamberi, an Italian gold medallist and high jumper, said he was “really, really sorry” to his wife after misplacing his wedding ring in the Seine during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony while carrying the Italian flag. Tamberi said in an Instagram post, “I think there might be a huge poetic side to yesterday’s misdeed, and if you want, we’ll throw yours into that river, too, so they’ll be together forever, and we’ll have one more excuse to, as you’ve always asked, renew our vows and get married anew.”
Height difference we need
Talking about goals, here is a height difference to strive for. During an Olympic basketball game, there were two players with a height difference of 2 feet (61 cm). France’s 7’4″ (226 cm) basketball star, Victor Wembanyama, and Japan’s 5’4″ (165 cm) Yuki Togashi.
Hired assassin
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yusuf Dikec of Turkey has grown to be a fan favourite, always having one hand in his pocket and wearing regular glasses. It would be foolish to underestimate his skill based only on his unprofessional appearance and lack of professional gear; his laid-back pose has led many to think he is a hired assassin on social media. With a silver in the mixed 10m air pistol team event alongside Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, Dikec earned Turkey’s second medal of the Games and their first-ever medal in Olympic shooting in Paris.
French guy smashing his pole on the pole
Pole-vaulting seems to be the generator of memorable Olympic moments, as we have another one about a French man. For reasons unrelated to his athletic skill, a French pole vaulter has unintentionally become an online sensation. Anthony Ammirati, whose “pole” interfered with his Olympic routine and prevented him from qualifying for the finals. Social media responded in tune with comments like, “I mean, if you’re going to be famous for losing a pole vault, this is the way to do it,” and “His pole certainly vaulted.”
Rocky
Imane Khelif, an Algerian Olympic boxer, won her golden medal during the Paris 2024 Olympics. That high was quickly crushed as brutal posts and comments were posted online during and after the competition, accusing her of being at an unfair advantage because she allegedly is transgender. The IBA (International Boxing Association) said they had tests to prove she had XY chromosomes, implying she was at an unfair advantage from higher testosterone levels. They never showed proof of that.
