Check out the standout stars of the Paris Olympics 2024

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Leon Marchand | Swimming

There was a race of the century in the women’s 400m freestyle. Old names kept their date with destiny while new ones made a dash. But Marchand has embellished his credentials so much. He came in as one of the poster boys for the hosts and he certainly did that moniker justice. A total of five medals, including four gold across the over week-long swimming programme.

(Photo | AP)

Novak Djokovic | Tennis

Just in terms of what a gold meant, this would probably rank among all the 24 Slams Novak Djokovic has won in his career. In one of his best tennis matches in over a decade, he controlled most of the crucial points against the younger and faster Carlos Alcaraz before beating him at the punch.

(Photo | AP)

Yusef Dikec | Shooting

There’s a genuine case to say that the Turkish 51-year-old has become one of the most popular athletes during the course of the Games. While his shooting itself was on point — he won a silver in the 10m mixed team event — the way he shot without the use of any external equipment while managing an extremely carefree pose, went viral.

(Photo | AFP)

Arshad Nadeem | Javelin

Arshad Nadeem storming to gold in the men’s javelin wasn’t a surprise. But the way he did it was a shock. His Olympic record of 92.97 demolished the field. From the time he threw that, the rest of his competitors knew within them that they were fighting for second place.

(Photo | AP)

Sydney McLoughlin | 400m Hurdles

If you ever feel like putting money on an athlete breaking a world record every time they compete, Sydney is your answer. Since breaking the record for this event in 2021, she has done it five more times. Considering she thinks she can break the 50 seconds barrier, she is likely to break more records in the future.

(Photo | AP)

Alex Yee | Triathlon

With just a few 100 metres to go for the finish line in the triathlon, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde had a comfortable lead over Great Britain’s Alex Yee. But Yee, one of the favourites coming into the event, started closing the gap before reeling Wilde in when the finish line was in sight. Rest assured, this will be in highlight reels decades down the line.

(Photo | AP)

Cindy Ngamba | Boxing

Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif won medals, making their countries proud but what was even more poignant was Cindy Ngamba’s bronze, a first ever for the Refugee Olympic Team. Her story is one of utmost bravery amid hardship, a story of survival before winning in front of the world stage.

(Photo | AP)

Simone Biles | Gymnastics

In 2021 at Tokyo, she withdrew. Three years later, the US gymnast was at her best as she her routines and nailed her landings to further her legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Three gold and one silver from Paris doesn’t even begin to do justice to what she did. Then, in an act of true Olympic spirit, she bowed down to Rebeca Andrade after finishing second to the Brazilian in the floor.

(Photo | AP)

Lisa Carrinton | Kayak

Back home in New Zealand, they call her GOAT in the boat. In Paris, she has once again showed her prowess with three golds in as many events. Overall, she now has eight gold over three Games and one bronze she won in Brazil.

(Photo | AP)
Institutions in Pakistan taking credit for Arshad Nadeem's Olympic success