PUBLISHED
August 09, 2024
The Paris Olympics are bringing all the drama and emotions this year. There has not been a dull moment yet!
The opening ceremony set a high bar with stunning performances by Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, while sports icons like Serena Williams and Zinedine Zidane enjoyed boat rides down the Seine, despite the heavy rain. The Eiffel Tower, sparkling with the iconic Olympic rings, added a magical touch to the event.
As the Games unfold, the excitement is palpable. We’re captivated by the athletes’ intense competitions, witnessing a mix of elation and surprise as they vie for gold. With each passing day, we cannot get enough of athletes battling it out for a spot at the winners podium and all the joyous and shocking moments that come with it!
While there are still a couple of days left till the Games end, we have compiled some of the most talked about moments so far!
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The Imane Khelif and Angela Carini debacle
Image: Reuters
One of the main controversies surrounding the Paris Olympics this year came about as a result of a boxing match between Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Italy;s Angela Carini. In Thursday’s bout, 25-year-old Khelif landed a decisive first punch on Italy’s Angela Carini, forcing her back and ultimately to her knees.
Spectators raised concerns about Khelif’s participation, citing a disputed 2023 ruling that barred her from a women’s tournament. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) strongly supports her inclusion in the 2024 Games. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams clarified, “This is not a transgender case.” The fight has sparked a gender debate, with Khelif facing transphobic abuse online due to perceived physical advantages.
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Turkish ‘hitman’ shooter Yusuf Dikec
Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has become a sensation on social media thanks to his relaxed demeanour while securing a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
Photos of Dikec, casually shooting in a T-shirt, with one hand tucked in his pocket, ordinary glasses, and an emotionless expression, have been widely shared. Many have compared him to an average guy casually competing at the Olympics or even joked about his resemblance to a hitman. Dikec’s silver medal marks a historic achievement as Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting. His laid-back pose has already inspired several athletes at the Games to imitate his viral moment.
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Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem ending the 40 year wait for an Olympic gold
Image: Reuters
August 8, 2024 marks a historic day for sports in Pakistan. Pakistani javelin thrower Ashad Nadeem threw his way into history by bagging an Olympic gold for Pakistan. This marks the medal for Pakistan in the Olympics since 1992 where the Men’s Hockey team won a bronze medal. And that’s not all – Nadeem, 27, is the first and only individual athlete from Pakistan to win a gold medal.
In this historic win for Pakistan, a country where cricket is the only sport that resources are poured into, self made Arshad Nadeem beat out his rival, India’s Neeraj Chopra and former reigning champion with an Olympic record breaking throw of 92.97m!
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Snoop Dogg at the Olympics
Image: Reuters
The iconic rapper has proved to be the #1 fan and cheerleader for all Team USA athletes at the Olympics in Paris this year. As a special correspondent for NBC, he has been seen dancing with the US women’s gymnastics team, donning equestrian gear to cheer on American horseback riders, and even testing his judo skills.
Snoop was also chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Paris. His enthusiastic support for Team USA has delighted viewers, making him a fan favourite.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by his popularity, but you never ever underestimate Snoop Dogg,” said Molly Solomon, NBC’s executive producer of the Olympics, describing him as an “ambassador of happiness.”
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Germans and Australians calling for Canadian hammer-thrower to be DNA tested for his ‘distinctive’ look after bagging the gold medal
Image: Reuters
Ethan Katzberg, a Canadian hammer-thrower, clinched the gold medal in Paris, ending Canada’s 68-year wait for gold in the event, with the last win dating back to 1956. However, following his victory, some German and Australian fans questioned his Canadian origins, pointing to his physique and strength as more typical of German athletes. On Twitter, a few German supporters even suggested that a DNA test might reveal his true heritage.
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British olympic medalist and swimmer Adam Peaty revealing there were worms in the fish at the Olympic Village dining hall
Image: Reuters
Athletes often enjoy the perks of the Olympic Village, but for British swimmer Adam Peaty, the food isn’t one of them.
Peaty, who won a silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke, criticised the catering in Paris, saying, “The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform. We need to give the best we possibly can.” He noted that the food in previous Olympics, like Tokyo and Rio, was much better. However, in Paris, Peaty was particularly concerned about the fish, stating, “I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough…we’re not feeding them the best.”
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Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen singlehandedly causing the chocolate muffins at the Olympic Village dining hall to go viral
Image: Henrik Christiansen
Henrik Christiansen has taken the internet by storm with his viral TikTok videos showcasing an unexpected obsession with Olympic Village muffins. His enthusiasm has sparked a global chocolate muffin craze, with searches for chocolate muffins skyrocketing by 1,523% worldwide, according to QR Code Generator. Thanks to Christiansenm now lovingly dubbed as ‘the muffin man’, chocolate muffins have become synonymous with the Paris Olympics.
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Protestors at the Olympics showing solidarity with Palestine during the cycling event
As cyclists rode through the 20th arrondissement of Paris, demonstrators displayed Palestinian flags, with some wearing keffiyehs and scarves—symbols of Palestinian nationalism.
Protesters dressed in t-shirts bearing the colours of the Palestinian flag chanted, “Free Palestine.”
French gendarmes, who sought to have the demonstrators remove their flags, remained positioned behind the activists throughout the race.
Simultaneously, hundreds of protesters gathered at Place de la Nation, calling for an end to Israel’s nearly 10-month-long attacks on the Gaza Strip.
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Swedish pole vaulter Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis breaking the world record for the 9th and running straight to his girlfriend
Image: Reuters
At the Stade de France on Monday, Aug. 5, Swedish pole vaulter Armand Mondo Duplantis clinched the gold medal in the men’s pole vault final by clearing 6.25m, setting a new world record.
To celebrate his victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 24-year-old athlete shared a heartfelt moment with his girlfriend, Desire Inglander. After his record-breaking jump, Duplantis rushed to Inglander, who was emotional and in tears, embracing and kissing her as the crowd cheered.
Inglander captured the moment on video and posted it on Instagram, where she wrote, “forever your biggest fan,” showing Duplantis running to her in the stands right after his win.
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Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso being asked to leave the Olympics on grounds for inappropriate behaviour
Image: luanalonsom on Instagram
Following a disappointing performance in the 100-metre butterfly, Paraguayan swimmer Alonso announced her retirement. Shortly after, she was expelled from the Olympic Village by the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP).
The COP’s mission head, Larissa Schaerer, sent an official email to Alonso, stating, “We ask, in an immediate fashion, for your withdrawal from the Athlete’s Village (…) Your presence is creating an inappropriate environment within Team Paraguay.” Schaerer further noted, “It was of your own free will that you did not spend the night in the Athlete’s Village.”
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Simone Biles becoming the most decorated American gymnast of all time
Image: Reuters
Simone Biles, often hailed as the greatest gymnast of all time, stands at 1.4 metres tall and had already secured 30 World Championship medals and seven Olympic medals before arriving in Paris. Now, with eight Olympic medals to her name, including five gold, Biles has surpassed the iconic Shannon Miller, making her the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history.
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Chinese artistic gymnast Zhou Yaqin’s adorable metal biting moment going viral
Courtesy: AFP, Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto
After competing in the balance beam final, 18-year-old Yaqin took home the silver medal with a score of 14.100. Italy’s Alice D’Amato claimed gold with 14.366, while Manila Esposito secured bronze with 13.866.
During the medal ceremony on August 5, as the three gymnasts stood on the podium, D’Amato and Esposito posed by biting their medals, a classic photo-op move. Yaqin, from China, wasn’t familiar with the tradition but quickly caught on. After noticing her Italian counterparts, she smiled and lifted her silver medal to her mouth, copying the gesture.
This sweet and spontaneous moment quickly went viral, with fans praising her quick thinking and the heartwarming show of Olympic camaraderie.
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Olympics swimmers falling ill after swimming in the River Seine
Image: Reuters
Concerns about the River Seine’s water quality have escalated after several Olympic triathletes fell ill following their events in Paris. The river, hosting swimming events for the Paris 2024 Olympics, has sparked criticism amid rising health fears.
Athletes from Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden withdrew from competitions due to gastrointestinal issues. The illness outbreak started after Team Belgium pulled out of the mixed relay triathlon following an athlete’s sickness in the women’s event. Despite water tests showing acceptable levels of E. coli and enterococci, a Tuesday test run for the marathon swimming course was cancelled over water quality concerns, adding to the uncertainty.
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Track and field Noah Lyles ending the USA’s 20 year drought in the 100m sprint after winning the gold medal
Image: Reuters
In a race that will be remembered for generations, Noah Lyles bagged the gold in the men’s 100m final on Sunday, ending Team USA’s two-decade-long drought in the event. Clocking in at 9.79 seconds, Lyles not only claimed the top spot on the podium but also broke Jamaica’s long standing dominance on the title. Despite tying for the slowest reaction time in the field at 0.178 seconds, Lyles still surged ahead to cross the finish line first.
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“World champion of what? The US?”: The beef between the US Men’s Basketball Team and Noah Lyles
Image: Reuters
Speaking of Noah Lyles, he has not just been in the news for his historic gold medal but for his back and forth with the US Men’s Basketball team. taking a shot at the NBA.
“You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on they head. World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong, I love the US – at times – but that ain’t the world,” Lyles said, pointing out a common critique from global sports fans. In most major American sports, the league champion is labelled as a world champion, despite competing only against teams from the US and Canada.
Lyles’ remark didn’t sit well with American NBA players, who quickly responded. Kevin Durant, a two-time NBA champion and 2014 MVP, led the backlash, writing on Instagram, “Somebody help this brother,” in response to an ESPN post. Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion, also chimed in, posting, “When being smart goes wrong,” along with a facepalm emoji. Devin Booker, a member of Team USA and the Phoenix Suns, simply responded with a facepalm emoji as well.
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Refugee Olympic team secures first ever medal with boxer Cindy Ngamba
Image: AP News
Cindy Ngamba, a Cameroonian-born boxer now living in the U.S., has made history as the first athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team to secure a medal. After her victory over France’s Davina Michel, the 25-year-old has earned a spot in the final this Saturday, ensuring at least a bronze medal in her name.
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French runner Alice Finot proposing to her boyfriend with an Olympic pin after her steeplechase race
Image via NYT
Alice Finot, a 33-year-old French steeplechase runner, made headlines by proposing to her boyfriend right after finishing the women’s 3000m race, where she placed fourth. After crossing the finish line, Finot ran directly to her boyfriend and dropped to one knee to ask him to marry her. The moment went viral for how unconventional and heartwarming it was.
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Saint Lucian sprinter Julian Alfred securing the country’s first ever Olympic medal
Image via Julien Alfred Facebook
Julien Alfred made history for Saint Lucia on Saturday, August 3, by winning the nation’s first-ever Olympic medal in Paris, and she did it in style by claiming gold. Alfred’s impressive 100 metres time of 10.72 seconds not only set a new personal best and national record but also left a significant gap between her and her competitors, with the USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson finishing in 10.87 seconds and Melissa Jefferson in 10.92 seconds. At just 23, Alfred has already secured a gold in the Women’s 100m and a silver in the 200m at the Paris Olympics.
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Team China’s artistic swimming routine goes viral
Image: Reuters/ Maye E. Wong
China clinched their first gold medal in artistic swimming at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday with a dynamic acrobatic team routine that dazzled the judges and earned a score far ahead of the United States, who took silver. With Russia, traditionally the powerhouse in artistic swimming, absent from the Games, China seized the opportunity to secure the top spot, while the U.S. claimed silver and Spain took home the bronze.
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Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez competes while 7 months pregnant
Image: @nada_hafez/ Instagram
The Paris Games have shown just how unstoppable women can be. Nada Havez, a 26-year-old Egyptian fencer, competed in this year’s Olympics while seven months pregnant. She won her first match but was knocked out in the final 16. After her performance, Havez shared the joyful news of expecting a ‘little Olympian’ on Instagram. What an extraordinary woman!
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Pommel horse guy: Team USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik goes viral
Adding to this list of viral athletes during the Paris Games is Team USA’s gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik. The 25-year-old pommel horse specialist not only secured gold for the men’s gymnastics team for the first time in 16 years but also captured attention for his unique pre-performance routine. Nedoroscik was filmed looking incredibly relaxed with his eyes closed before competing, a moment that has since become a popular meme on social media. Fans have affectionately dubbed him the Olympics’ very own Clark Kent, thanks to his transformation from a glasses-wearing, laid-back athlete to a powerhouse on the pommel horse.
