The 2024 Paris Olympics were held in Paris, France. The United States came in first place in the medal count, with China in second place and Japan in third. In total, there were 329 medal events. The Paralympics were also held in Paris after the Olympics were over.
The Olympics this year were characterized by many things: the sport of breaking was introduced, soccer was played in several French cities, including Marseille and Bordeaux, and surfing was held in Tahiti. Approximately 10,500 athletes participated. Women’s sports also had a greater role, as both the United States and China had more medals won by women than men.
The United States did well, winning the overall medal count as well as the medal counts in athletics (track and field), swimming, basketball and artistic gymnastics. Team USA also had the most athletes at the Olympics, with 594. In track and field, featuring Noah Lyles (gold medal in the 100m and a bronze medal in the 200m) and Sha’Carri Richardson (gold in 4x100m relay and silver in 100m), the team holds a combined thirty-four medals. In swimming, the U.S. took eight golds and 28 medals, with Australia close behind with seven gold and 18 medals. Olympian Caleb Dressel, with three gold medals, and Katie Ledecky, who won two gold medals and four total medals, both helped their team immensely. The United States won both men’s and women’s basketball, although the men’s 3v3 team was eliminated in the first round. The women’s team gymnastics is perhaps the most well known event, with an amazing U.S. team taking the gold. Simone Biles was a key gymnast on the team, with a gold in vault and as an individual and a silver in floor. The men’s gymnastic team also took third, after Japan and China. After sixteen years, the men’s gymnastics team secured a bronze medal with the help of Stephen Nedoroscik, also known as the “pommel horse guy.”
Breaking, a new sport that was introduced this year, received mixed opinions. The U.S. won bronze in men’s breaking, but there are some questions about breaking in the future after Rachael Gunn’s, an Australian break dancer, performance went viral on social media. Another notable performance from the Olympics was from Yusuf Dikec. Although placing second in the air pistol shooting competition, his lack of gear and calm attitude also spread throughout social media.
In the Paralympics, the United States placed third in the overall medal count, with China and Great Britain taking first and second place, respectively. The Paralympics are a competition very similar to the Olympics, but for people with disabilities. There actually are more medal events in the Paralympics than the Olympics, because the athletes are put into categories based on how severe their limitations are. There are 28 sports in total and 549 events. One of these is blind football (soccer). The rules state that four players must have their eyes covered with eyeshades so they cannot see anything. The goalkeeper can be partially sighted. The field has boards around the edges so that the ball cannot go out of play, and the ball makes a noise to help players find it. Off-field guides can help the players, and the fans must be silent until a goal is scored. The soccer field is much smaller than normal and the game is 30 minutes long.
“I really like watching them. I like seeing some of the relationships that the Olympians have with the Paralympians,” said Ms. Regan Smith, a math teacher.
Indeed, it is interesting seeing how the Paralympics work and how they enable people with disabilities to do things that they otherwise could not do: compete at the highest level of sports.
“I think it’s very good, and gives a lot of opportunities,” said freshman Patrick Jonski.
Wheelchair basketball is one classic example of a Paralympic sport, but there are others, including wheelchair rugby, para-archery and sitting volleyball. The Paralympics are a solution to athletic people who are disabled. It gives them a chance to compete on an equal playing field.
The 2024 Olympics and Paralympics brought some new sports, records and recipes for chocolate muffins that had not been seen before, but they still were what the Olympics are: a great sports competition.