Memorable moments at the Paris Olympics: Simone Biles was the star, but the spotlight reached many faces
PARIS: Simone Biles stole the show at the Paris Olympics with a captivating comeback that had everyone watching everything she did in and out of the gym.
All eyes were on Biles, who won four medals, but the spotlight was bright enough to bring new names, new faces and some unexpected new stars to the forefront. The Paris Games will be remembered for their stunning venues, unprecedented accessibility and Snoop Dogg starring in NBC’s record-breaking coverage.
Paris introduced the world to “The Pommel Horse Guy” and “The Real John Wick,” as well as a meme-generating performance by an Australian professor in his Olympic breakdancing debut.
French swimmer Leon Marchand produced a Michael Phelps-like performance at the Olympics in his own country, winning five medals, four of them gold, while Ilona Maher was hoping for a chance on the reality TV show Love Island after leading the USA to a stunning last-minute victory that gave the USA its first ever medal, a bronze, in rugby sevens.
Noah Lyles was crowned the fastest man in the world for his victory in the 100 meters, but after finishing third in the 200 meters – his first loss in his favorite event since the Tokyo Olympics three years ago – he announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. Sha’Carri Richardson chased down two rivals in the rain to finish her first Olympics with relay gold after having to settle for silver in the 100 meters.
The USA was in the lead in the medal rankings – before the last day of competition on Sunday there were 121 medals, 37 of them gold – and the Americans also won again in men’s basketball and women’s soccer.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments from the Paris Olympics:
Biles rose to gold
Three years after withdrawing from several competitions at the Tokyo Games for mental health reasons, Biles returned to the Olympics and won four medals, three of them gold.
She was the most popular attraction in Paris, competing in front of a celebrity-packed crowd. Those who couldn’t sit in the stands with Tom Cruise, Spike Lee, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga watched from afar as 34.7 million viewers across all platforms watched Biles lead the United States to team gold, according to NBC.
Next up for the greatest gymnast in Olympic history is a 30-stop “Gold Over America Tour” for the GOAT.
Swimming problems
After nine days of competition, the Americans were only just able to defend their lead in the gold medal standings in swimming and needed a win in the final race of the Olympic Games to do so.
The USA ended up with just eight gold medals, the fewest since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and one ahead of their biggest rival Australia.
“This is one of the worst performances by the U.S. team in history,” said Phelps, the most successful Olympian of all time.
The rest of the world had more wins (20) than the USA and Australia combined, the first time this has happened since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Track issues
The Americans’ 34 medals and 14 golds were their best result in athletics at non-boycotted Games since the early 20th century, when there were more competitions and fewer countries.
This despite the disappointment that Richardson did not win a gold medal in the 100-meter race, Lyles lost the 200 meters after his COVID-19 diagnosis, and the men’s 4×100-meter relay team was disqualified due to a mistake.
The relay team’s performance was so poor that Carl Lewis, a nine-time gold medalist, called for fundamental changes in the American track and field program.
But the USA finished strong: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set another world record by winning the 400m hurdles again, and she was then part of the 4×400 relay that she and Gabby Thomas led to a resounding victory on final night at the Stade de France.
The American men won gold in the same race about 15 minutes earlier in a much closer finish.
The USA’s 14 gold medals are the most at a non-boycotted Olympic Games since 1968.
USA basketball team wins gold again
Stephen Curry was able to add more significant achievements to his legacy by finally winning an Olympic gold medal.
Curry scored 24 points to lead the United States to a 98-87 victory over France in the men’s basketball final. It was the fifth consecutive gold medal for the United States – and the 17th in 20 American appearances at the Games.
Kevin Durant, the first four-time gold medalist in men’s basketball in Olympic history, scored 15 points for the Americans, as did Devin Booker. And LeBron James, wearing metallic gold sneakers, scored 14 points for the U.S. to win his fourth Olympic medal and third gold medal.
Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points for France in his first Olympic final and was in tears after the game.
American women’s soccer team back on top
The United States women’s soccer team won its fifth Olympic gold medal by defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final. The Americans had not won gold since the 2012 London Olympics.
With the gold, the team completed its undefeated run to the title in its first international season under new coach Emma Hayes.
When the final whistle blew, the US players cheered while Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” played in the stadium.
Boxing controversy
Women’s boxing was drawn into the culture war because of gender misunderstandings surrounding two competitors.
Imane Khelif of Algeria and Li Yu-ting of Taiwan came under sharp criticism after the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified them from last year’s world championships, alleging that both had failed an aptitude test for the women’s competition. However, IBA officials refused to answer basic questions.
Khelif endured intense scrutiny in the ring and online abuse from around the world due to misconceptions about her femininity and still won gold in the women’s welterweight division.
A night later, Lin won a gold medal in the women’s featherweight division, capping her four-fight unbeaten streak in Paris by winning Taiwan’s first Olympic gold medal in boxing.
“I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I live as a woman and I am qualified,” said Khelif after her victory.
The International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented step of permanently banning the IBA from the Olympics last year after years of concerns about its governance, competitive fairness and financial transparency. The IOC has called the gender tests the sport’s governing body imposed on the two boxers irretrievably flawed.
