Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (2024)

After nearly three weeks and more than 1,000 medals, the Paris Olympics have awarded their final gold.

From the ambitious opening ceremony to the handoff to 2028 host Los Angeles, the Paris Games delivered numerous memorable moments. Acclaimed stars cemented their legacies and new faces became Olympic fixtures.

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But some stellar performances and viral memes stood above the rest. To highlight and celebrate the best of the 2024 Games, a group of 20 staff members of The Athletic voted and compiled this list of our “Olympic Superlative” winners. (It should be noted this is not a definitive list — but a fun exercise.)

So with that, here’s who stayed winning in our eyes.

Most dominant performance

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (1)(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Winner: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (five votes)

This category was for the athlete (or team) who put together the best, most undeniable Olympic campaign.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the American hurdler and sprinter, won gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, setting a world record at 50.37 seconds. On Saturday, she closed her Games with another gold in the women’s 4×400 relay, pulling away from the field in her leg, which was just a tenth of a second off the world record.

Runners-up: Simone Biles and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis (three votes each)

Biles, the American gymnast, won three gymnastics golds — team, all-around and vault — and one silver (floor exercise) in her Olympic return. Duplantis, a Swedish pole vaulter, won gold in the men’s event and set a new world record at 6.25 meters to break his previous record.

Also receiving votes:

  • China’s diving team (two votes) — won all eight Olympic diving gold medals
  • Léon Marchand (two votes) — the French swimmer won four golds and one bronze (more on him below)
  • USA Basketball (two votes) — extended its gold medal streak to five (for men) and eight (for women)
  • Katie Ledecky (one vote) — the American swimmer won two golds, a silver and a bronze in women’s swimming, and set an Olympic record in the 1,500-meter freestyle
  • Mijain Lopez (one vote) — the Cuban wrestler won gold in men’s wrestling, a record-fifth straight Olympic gold in the same individual event
  • South Korea’s archery team (one vote) — swept all five golds in archery (men’s and women’s)

Breakout star

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (2)(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Winner: Léon Marchand (eight votes)

This category was for the athlete who most ascended into popular consciousness, the one we couldn’t stop talking about, and whose celebrity dramatically increased during these Olympics.

Marchand, the 22-year-old French swimming sensation, took the Paris Games by storm. He won four gold medals in a range of events — the 200 breaststroke, the 200 butterfly, the 200 individual medley and the 400 individual medley. Oh yeah, and he set an Olympic record in each. Marchand also took a bronze in the men’s 4×100 medley. He proved during his Paris campaign why he’s drawn comparisons to swimming legend Michael Phelps.

Runner-up: Stephen Nedoroscik (five votes)

Nedoroscik is an American gymnast. More specifically, he’s a pommel horse expert who became a household name after clinching the bronze for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team, their first team medal since 2008. Nedoroscik seemed to delight Americans with his nerdiness, and he also won a bronze in the — you guessed it — pommel horse event.

Also receiving votes:

  • Summer McIntosh (four votes) — the Canadian swimmer won three golds (200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM) and one silver (400 free), setting Olympic records in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM
  • Ilona Maher (two votes) — the American women’s rugby sevens star helped the U.S. to its first Olympic medal, a bronze, in the event
  • The Woodhalls (one vote) — Tara Davis-Woodhall won long jump gold for the U.S. and was cheered on by her Paralympian husband, Hunter

Best photo

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (3)(Photo: Jerome Brouillet / AFP via Getty Images)

Winner: Image of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina (10 votes)

This category was for the image that most resonated with our voters and best captured the spirit of the Paris Games.

Photographer Jerome Brouillet captured a viral image of Medina celebrating after the surfer earned the highest single wave score in Olympic history in a heat during the men’s competition. Medina and his board look like they’re floating above the water as Medina holds his right arm in the air while making a No. 1 sign with his hand.

Runner-up: The Biles/Chiles bow (eight votes)

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade celebrated her floor exercise gold medal with props from American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, who bowed to Andrade while on the podium with their medals.

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (4)
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Also receiving votes:

  • American sprinter Noah Lyles wins the men’s 100-meter final in a photo finish (one vote)

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (5)

  • Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrates winning the women’s long jump final (one vote)

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (6)

Best viral moment

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (7)(Photo: Yasin Akgul / AFP via Getty)

Winner: Yusuf Dikeç shooting (six votes)

This category was for the star of the Internet Olympics — with a plethora of shareable clips and meme-worthy moments up for consideration.

Dikeç — the Turkish shooter who won silver in a relaxed fashion — came out on top. His chill stance, with his pistol pointed in one hand and his other hand in his pocket, was emulated by various athletes across the Games. “I am a natural, a natural shooter,” he told Turkish newspaper Habertürk.

The celebration that keeps on giving 👀#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/KBX8WJBMKS

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 7, 2024

Runner-up: Pommel king (four votes)

Or, Stephen Nedoroscik whipping off his glasses and winning bronze:

Obsessed with this guy on the US men's gymnastics team who's only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he's activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years. pic.twitter.com/0D1ZqJjFa1

— Megan 📚 (@MegWritesBooks) July 29, 2024

Also receiving votes:

  • Appendage accident — when French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s crotch got in the way (three votes)
  • Raygun’s breaking routine — the Australian breakdancer who confounded us all (three votes)
  • Kim Yeji — the South Korean shooter who captivated the internet with her sci-fi swagger (three votes)
  • Ireland’s Emily Lane and Erin King’s unbelievable catch in a rugby match against Great Britain (one vote)

Biggest upset

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (8)(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Winner: Cole Hocker shocking the favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter to win gold (eight votes)

There’s nothing better than an underdog victory or a shock win. This category was for the athlete or team who best stunned the field and pulled off gold despite long odds.

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The men’s 1,500 was expected to be a two-way battle between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, but Hocker outran Ingebrigtsen and outkicked Kerr to run off with the gold.

Runners-up: It was a three-way tie, with each receiving three votes:

  • Canada winning the men’s 4×100 relay with a fast final leg from Andre De Grasse
  • Dutch sprinter Femke Bol turning on the jets in the 4×400 mixed relay to win gold
  • France men’s rugby sevens dethroning Fiji

Also receiving votes:

  • Kristen Faulkner winning gold in the women’s cycling road race to end a 40-year American drought (two votes)
  • Great Britain’s Toby Roberts’ climbing win in men’s boulder and lead final after the favorite, Japan’s Sorato Anraku, fell (one vote)

Biggest broadcast win

Winner: “GoldZone” (seven votes)

This category was for what most enhanced our at-home viewing experience.

The NBC/Peacock Olympic whip-around show, modeled after “NFL RedZone,” allowed viewers to simultaneously follow gold medal finishes across multiple events.

Runner-up: Snoop Dogg’s commentary

The rapper was a major part of NBC’s coverage of the Games, and good news for fans, it appears this might not be his last.

Also receiving votes:

  • Laurie Hernandez talking gymnastics (four votes)
  • Discovery Plus (one vote)
  • English broadcaster Clare Balding paying an emotional tribute to Andy Murray after his final match at the Olympics (one vote)

Best venue

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (9)(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Winner: Beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower (14 votes)

Iconic landmarks and picturesque views defined the 2024 Games. Our voters liked the beach volleyball setting best.

Runner-up: Surfing in Tahiti (three votes)

Also receiving votes:

  • Fencing at the Grand Palais (one vote)
  • Cycling road race routes around Paris (one vote)

Best final farewell

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (10)(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

Winner: Simone Biles (10 votes)

It was the last or the potential last Games for many Olympic legends. Though some have not confirmed whether they’ll try to come back for Los Angeles, we voted on who among them had the best sendoff if they don’t return.

Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history and, at 27, she is the oldest all-around Olympic champion in more than 70 years. Even if she doesn’t return for L.A., which would mark her fourth Olympics, Biles is already considered the GOAT in the sport.

Runner-up: LeBron James (five votes)

Making his fourth Olympic appearance, James was named MVP of the tournament as the U.S. men’s team won its fifth straight Olympic gold. James, 39, is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time NBA champion. Now, he’s a three-time Olympic gold medalist, too.

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Also receiving votes:

  • Andy Murray — British tennis player in his fifth Olympics (four votes)
  • Rafael Nadal — Spanish tennis player in his fourth Olympics (one vote)

Best feel-good story

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (11)(Photo: Richard Pelham / Getty Images)

Winner: Cindy Ngamba becoming the first-ever medalist for the Olympic refugee team (eight votes)

There was no shortage of controversy during the Paris Games, including concerns about the Seine’s water quality and a media firestorm in women’s boxing, but there were many positive moments as well. We voted on what most made our hearts melt.

Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon and lives in the United Kingdom, reached the semifinal of the women’s 75-kilogram (165 pounds) competition, which earned her a bronze medal.

Runner-up: Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin biting her medal on the podium after noticing the Italian gymnasts doing it (five votes)

Also receiving votes:

  • Henrik Christiansen, the Norwegian swimmer who was obsessed with the muffins in the Olympic Village (four votes)
  • Nada Hafez, the Egyptian fencer who competed while seven months pregnant (two votes)
  • Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowing to Brazilian gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (one vote)

(Photos of Léon Marchand, Simone Biles and Cindy Ngamba by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images; Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages; Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Alex Andrejev is a staff editor on the news team. Before joining The Athletic, she covered NASCAR and Charlotte FC for The Charlotte Observer and was a reporting intern on the sports desk for The Washington Post. She grew up near Washington, D.C.

Olympic superlatives: Our staff picks for the best of the Paris Games (2024)

FAQs

What does the 2024 Olympic mascot mean? ›

The Paris 2024 mascots have charmed and perplexed fans of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mascot creators were inspired by “the famous Phrygian cap — a symbol of freedom.”

Who is the favorite to win the 2024 Olympics? ›

The USA is still the favorite at -480, but those odds have moved from -750 since the Games started. Can China catch the Americans and win the most gold medals in Paris? Let's check out the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

What sport is Paris adding to the Olympics? ›

The sport of breaking will make its Olympic debut in Paris in August. The Paris Games will include one men's and one women's event “where 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls will go face to face in spectacular solo battles,” according to the official Olympics website.

Which countries are banned from the Olympics in 2024? ›

Under the terms of the suspension, no athlete or sports official from either Russia or Belarus will be allowed to participate in the Olympics under the name of Russia or Belarus.

What is the symbol of Paris 2024? ›

The logo for Paris 2024 combines three separate symbols – the gold medal, the flame and Marianne, the personification of the French Republic.

Why is the I lowercase in Paris Olympics 2024? ›

The lowercase 'i' in the logo for the 2024 Paris Olympics signifies a nod to inclusivity and individuality. Designer Sylvain Boyer aimed to create a logo that reflects a modern identity, emphasizing the importance of female athletes and the spirit of the Games.

Is Michael Phelps retired? ›

Michael Phelps is one of the most successful athletes of all time with 28 Olympic medals. Phelps was a swimming prodigy, setting records at age 10 and competing at the 2000 Olympics at 15. Now retired, Phelps is a mental-health advocate and commentator at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

How much money do you get for winning the 2024 Olympics? ›

Here's what you need to know about how prize money will be awarded for the Paris 2024 Olympics: – Athletes from Team USA will earn $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze medals, slightly below the average among surveyed countries.

What is the prediction for the Paris 2024 medal table? ›

Nielsen's Gracenote Expects USA, China, Great Britain, France and Australia to Lead 2024 Paris Olympic Games Medal Table. Just days ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, Nielsen's Gracenote releases its final Virtual Medal Table (VMT) forecast for the 2024 Games.

What is the Olympic motto? ›

The original Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words : Citius - Altius - Fortius. These words mean Faster - Higher - Stronger.

What color is not in the Olympic ring? ›

The orange tone that is seen in flags of countries such as Bhutan, Armenia and Sri Lanka is not one of the 5 colors of the Olympic Rings. Considering the symbol's creation in 1913 was over 100 years ago, it is incredible the relevance the symbol still carries, and the power of the 6 combined colors.

What sports have been removed from the Olympics in 2024? ›

It was announced in 2016 that baseball and softball would both return to Olympic sport status for the 2020 Tokyo Games (which were held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic). The two sports were then dropped from the 2024 Games in Paris but reinstated for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Who is banned from the Olympics? ›

In 2019, Russia was officially banned from the Olympics by the World Anti-Doping Agency for four years, but that ban was shortened to two years after Russia appealed. For the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the IOC banned Russia and Belarus from participating due to their involvement related to the war in Ukraine.

Why is Russia banned from the Olympics? ›

In 2019, the country was barred from major international sporting events for state-sponsored doping offences. That suspension was later reduced to two years. At the Tokyo Games, Russian athletes competed under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Is North Korea banned from the Olympics? ›

Athletes from North Korea are currently competing in the Summer Olympics for the first time in eight years. The communist state had been suspended for the 2022 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) having withdrawn unlawfully from the Tokyo Games in 2020 citing pandemic concerns.

What does the Phrygian cap mean? ›

Marianne wears a Phrygian cap and personifies the concept of Liberty. The Phrygian cap, a soft hat typically in red, was traditionally worn by freed slaves in Phrygia, an ancient kingdom located in present-day Turkey.

What is the meaning of the Olympic symbol? ›

He appears to have intended the rings to represent the five inhabited continents: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. According to Coubertin, the colours of the rings, along with the white background, represented the colours of every competing country's flag at the time.

What does a mascot represent? ›

A mascot is an animal or character that represents a group. If your high school soccer team is called "the weasels," it means that a weasel must be your school's mascot. Some mascots supposedly bring luck to an organization or club, and others are used as marketing for a team or brand.

What do the phryges represent? ›

Olympic organizers announced the mascots are called The Phryges, pronounced free-jes or freeze with a “j” sound, and they are red caps that represent freedom in France, NBC Sports reported.

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