Photos preserve the most iconic moments from the Paris Olympics, including Simone Biles bowing after defeat and Noah Lyles becoming the fastest man in the world
The 2024 Paris Olympics made hearts race and tugged at heartstrings.
From left, American Simone Biles, silver, Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, gold, and American Jordan Chiles, bronze, during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women's floor exercise event. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
From world records and gold medals to heartthrobs and memes, the 2024 Paris Olympics have given everyone something to cheer for.
The United States has shown its dominance over the past two weeks in swimming, gymnastics and track and field, and currently has over 50 medals across those three sports. Whether those medals came from Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female Olympic swimmer of all time, Noah Lyles, the newly minted fastest man in the world, or Simone Biles, who made her return to the top of the podium after pulling out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a case of the “twisties,” the U.S. has had plenty to cheer about.
Sprinter Noah Lyles of the U.S. is treated by medical staff following the men's 200m final. (Petr David Josek/AP)
Several other countries have had historic moments as well. St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred took home gold in the women’s 100-meter final as the country’s first Olympic medal. Sweden’s Armand Duplantis broke a world record in the high jump (6.25 meters). Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won his first gold medal after defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final. Brazil’s Gabriel Medina became one of the first notable athletes of the Games after he was photographed celebrating in midair, making it look like he was floating above the waves in Tahiti, where the surfing competition took place.
Brazil's Gabriel Medina in midair catching a large wave in men's surfing. (Jerome Broulliette/AFP via Getty Images)
Olympics fans cheered on some athletes on social media not because of their performance, but because of the lasting images taken of them. Turkish shooter Yusuf Dike? made the rounds online after not using much of the equipment other competitors did — and because of his nonchalant stance while competing. American Tara Davis-Woodhall endeared herself to social media after she won gold at the women’s triple jump and celebrated with her husband in the stands.
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As the Olympics come to an end and the final gold medals are handed out, athletes like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who helped the men’s basketball team overcome a 17-point deficit against Serbia to advance to the final, have limited opportunities to continue shining on the world stage in Paris.
American swimmers Katie Ledecky, gold, and Paige Madden, bronze, celebrate their 800m freestyle performances. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters)
Gold medalist Algeria's Imane Khelif on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 66kg boxing division. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)
Stephen Nedoroscik of the United States waves after winning the bronze medal in the pommel horse.(Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports via Reuters)
Gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall, left, and bronze medalist Jasmine Moore, both of the U.S., celebrate competing in the women's long jump final. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
Sha'Carri Richardson of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the women's 4x100 relay. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters)
The Netherlands' Yibbi Jansen, second right, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the women's gold medal field hockey match between China and the Netherlands. (Aijaz Rahi/AP)
Rai Benjamin of the United States competes during his gold medal win at the men's 400m hurdles final. (Petr David Josek/AP)
Japan's Ami Yuasa, the eventual gold medal winner, competes in the women's breaking dance quarterfinal. (Odd Anderson/AFP via Getty Images)
Spanish forward Sergio Camello, right, celebrates scoring his team's fifth and winning goal in the men's gold medal final soccer match between France and Spain. (Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet celebrates after winning the women's 10,000m final. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, left, and Yusuf Dike?, both of Turkey, in action: 10m air pistol mixed team. (Amr Alfiky/Reuters)
Noah Lyles of the United States crosses the line to win gold in the 100m. (Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)
Kim Ye-ji of South Korea during the women's 25m air pistol qualification round. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Anti of Italy in action during the Paris Olympics breaking competition. (Angelika Warmuth/Reuters)
Sam Watson of the U.S. after setting a new world record in the men's sport climbing speed event. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
Gold medalist Grant Holloway of the U.S. celebrates after winning the men's 110m hurdles final. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
Trinity Rodman of United States, heading the ball, in soccer action with Felicitas Rauch of Germany. (Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters)
Noah Lyles of United States celebrates after winning gold in the 100m. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)
Team USA in men's artistic gymnastics, from left to right, Brody Malone, Asher Hong, Fred Richard, Paul Juda and Stephen Nedoroscik, celebrate their bronze medal. (Abbie Parr/AP)
Gold medallist Armand Duplantis of Sweden celebrates after vaulting a new world record of 6.25 meters. (Lisa Leutner/Reuters)
Gabrielle Thomas, center, of the United States after crossing the line to win gold in the 200m. (Phil Noble/Reuters)
Artistic swimmers Laelys Alavez, Anastasia Bayandina, Ambre Esnault, Laura Gonzalez, Romane Lunel, Eve Planeix, Charlotte Tremble and Laura Tremble of France perform in the pool. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)
Pole vaulter Nina Kennedy of Australia celebrates with her national flag after winning gold. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)
Basketball stars Lebron James and Stephen Curry of United States celebrate. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Cole Hocker, of the United States, winning the men's 1500m final. (Petr David Josek/AP)
Members of Team USA celebrate after winning the gold medal in the women's artistic gymnastics team finals round. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Quincy Hall, left, of the United States, beats Matthew Hudson-Smith, of Britain, to win the men's 400m final. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Simone Biles, of the United States, beams at the medal ceremony after winning the gold for women's artistic gymnastics individual vault finals. (Francisco Seco/AP)
Julien Alfred, of Saint Lucia, after winning the women's 100m final. (David J. Phillip/AP)
Noah Lyles celebrating after winning the gold medal in in the men's 100m final. (Ashley Landis/AP)
Jordan Chiles, right, and Simone Biles celebrate after the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals. (Morry Gash/AP)
Italy's Giovanni Tocci competes in the men's 3m springboard diving. (Lee Jin-man/AP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final. (Manu Fernande/AP)
