It’s been a remarkable 19 days in Paris full of remarkable feats of mental and physical strength. These Olympics have been such a joy to watch, full of beautiful Parisian scenery and crowds of fans that were deeply missed during Tokyo 2021. While it’s hard to pick favourites, and recognizing that I wasn’t able to enjoy every event (although I tried – I really did), here are a few of my stand-out moments from Paris 2024.
Mondo Duplantis breaking his own World Record
Seeing Mondo soar to new heights in the pole vault – and break his own World Record – was stunning. Having already easily attained the Gold medal, he went for the record by increasing the bar to 6.25m. His first two attempts saw him agonizingly close to clearing the bar – having the amplitude but grazing his chest against the bar on the way down. On his last attempt, the pressure was on. All other events had finished, so all eyes turned to him, as the 71,000 strong crowd in Stade de France clapped him forward on the runway. When he cleared the bar, he catapulted off the mat and into the crowd with everyone roaring at his magnificent accomplishment.
Sifan Hassan medaling in the marathon, 5,000m, and 10,000m
Nobody worked harder than Sifan Hassan these Olympics as she ran over 60km in three events. She thought it was impossible to be successful running the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon in one Olympic Games. But, she said she’s a curious person and that the only way she’d know if it was truly impossible would be to try. At the last event of the games, after winning bronze in both at the events on the track, she achieved the impossible and won Gold in the marathon. Her searing finishing kick that had her overtake the current World Record holder Tigst Assefa in the final 200 metres in typical Sifan Hassan fashion. I can think of no better way to finish these Olympics than watch someone who was once a refugee achieve such a tremendous feat in the very last event.
Tom Pidcock narrowly squeaking by to win
There is no better example of narrowly winning a Gold medla than that of Britain’s Tom Pidcock in men’s mountain biking. During a very close battle between him and France’s Victor Koretzky, it all came down to the last few meters. Having led for most of the final lap, Koretzky looked to be impassable. That is, until Tom Pidock found a gap (where I saw no gap) and accelerated through the turn – just squeaking past Koretzky’s left shoulder for the win. Much to the chagrin of the French fans who booed him on the podium.
Netherlands winning 4×400 mixed relay thanks to Femke Bol
Femke Bol may have been somewhat disappointed with her finish in the 400m hurdles, but she was absolutely tremendous in the mixed 4x400m mixed relay. With her team sitting well behind in fourth position, she got the baton and started making up room – overtaking all three in the last 200m to win Gold. Legendary. Hup! Hup! Hup!
Heated beach volleyball spat broken up by John Lennon
A miscommunication between the Brazilian and Canadian beach volleyball teams in the Gold medal match led to heated words at the net. The quick-thinking DJ started playing “Imagine” by John Lennon, which immediately calmed down the atmosphere, and had both teams (and the crowd) laughing, smiling, and clapping within moments. The power of music. (And, all was cleared up by the end of the match with both teams embracing and sharing genuine words of respect.)
Canadian and Brazilian players are having a heated chat at the net during the women’s beach volleyball gold medal match
– DJ plays John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’
– Players look at one another and smile
– Crowd starts singing alongIssue resolved pic.twitter.com/82mvCDTqVs
— Rupesh N. Bhambwani (@RBhambwani) August 10, 2024
Sarah Sjöström winning surprise Gold in 100m freestyle
I love Sarah Sjöström. One of the world’s most prolific swimmers, she holds the World Record in 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 100m freestyle. But, she hasn’t won a big Olympic race in a long time, and at age 30, she wasn’t considered to be a Gold medal contender in a longer sprint race like the 100m freestyle. In fact, she considered scratching that race to focus on the 50m free, which she was projected to win (and did!) So, nobody was more surprised than her when she beat out the favourites from an outside lane to claim Gold. In previous Olympics, she has always been the first to congratulate our Canadians like Penny Oleksiak and Maggie McNeil, who have beaten her, and she seems like the nicest, most-sporting, person in the pool. To see her unexpectedly win this event was beautiful to watch!
Julien Alfred winning Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal (a Gold!)
One-quarter of Saint Lucia’s Olympic team are now Gold Medallists. That is to say that Saint Lucia only had four athletes competing, and one of them was Julien Alfred. While a lot of attention was on Sha’Carri Richardson to win the 100m dash, Alfred surged ahead to win Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal – a Gold! Not only that, but she followed it up with a silver medal in the 200m days later. A remarkable moment for the tiny island nation.
Canada winning 4x100m men’s relay Gold
“Did that just happen?!” After narrowly getting into the final out of the heats, I have to admit that I thought we’d be a long-shot for a medal at all. So, when the 4×100 Canadian men’s relay team of Andre De Grasse, Jerome Blake, Aaron Brown, and Brendon Rodney came across the line first, I nearly lost my damn mind. While the favourited Americans fumbled the baton at the second exchange, the Canadians executed a near-perfect race plan, crossing the line first and landing the Canadian relay team a complete set of medals – Bronze in Rio, Silver in Tokyo, and now Gold in Paris! A well-deserved win for a veteran team that put all the pieces together when they needed it most.
First medal for the Refugee Team
Cindy Ngamba brought the Refugee Team its first-ever medal by winning bronze in the women’s 75kg boxing. These athletes of the Refugee Team have no doubt endured the most difficult path to the Olympics, with the team serving as a “as a beacon of hope for those who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.” Overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, there is no brighter beacon than Cindy Ngamba.
Homegrown Canadian talent crushing it
From hammerthrow to breaking-dancing, watching Canada’s homegrown talent crush it on the biggest stage in sports was such a delight to watch. Starting with Summer McIntosh amassing three gold medals and one silver in the pool, and reaching the lofty heights that were foretold for her. Then, onto Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers who showed that British Columbia is the hammerthrow hotspot of the world?! I did not have that on my bingo card. Ethan won it outright from his first throw of 84m, while Camryn clinched it on her third attempt with a nearly 77m throw – winning our first female Athletics gold since 1928. Katie Vincent won gold by one-100th of a second in the 500m sprint canoe – an epic paddle battle – while Christa Deguchi won gold in 75kg judo. Finally, Phil Wizard displayed his artistry and talent in the Olympic debut of breakdancing with routines incredibly creative routines that were clearly deserving of the first-ever Gold medal in the event.
On a personal note, it was also so enjoyable to watch someone I know compete in the women’s road cycling. Having met at a friend’s Christmas cookie swap many moons ago, I’ve had the privilege of following Alison Jackson’s journey as she launched from the hills of Tour de White Rock into competing on the world stage, including winning the Paris-Roubaix Femmes race in 2023. Her Olympic journey has seen her continually improve – going from an Olympic alternate in Rio in 2016, to a last-minute domestique in Tokyo 2021, to Canada’s leading road cyclist in Paris 2024. Seeing her ride through the streets of Paris and Versailles in the Maple Leaf-clad sky-blue jersey as a now two-time Olympian filled me with all kinds of Canadian pride.
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Thank you Paris for such a remarkable games. Although, I think we could have all done without forcing the world’s best athletes to swim in the Seine. But, apart from that, you were a delight! Now, before your post-Olympic depression hits, remind yourself – as I am – that the Paralympics are only 16 days away starting on August 28.
