Biles, Marchand and Khelif star in memorable moments at Paris 2024

Paris. American Simone Biles stole the show at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a captivating comeback that had the world following her every move, in and out of the gym.

All eyes were on the 27-year-old gymnast on her way to four podium finishes, but the spotlight was bright enough to illuminate new names, new faces and some unlikely stars.

The Parisian event will also be remembered for its breathtaking venues, unprecedented access and Snoop Dogg’s starring role in an NBC telecast that broke audience records.

Paris introduced the world to “Pommel Horse Guy” and “The Real John Wick,” as well as a meme-worthy performance by an Australian teacher at breakdancing’s Olympic debut.

At the amazing Olympic Games hosted by his country, French swimmer Léon Marchand delivered a performance worthy of comparisons with American Michael Phelps, winning five medals, four of them gold.

In athletics, Noah Lyles of the United States was crowned the fastest man on Earth by winning the 100 metres, but after finishing third in the 200 metres – his first defeat in his favourite event since the Tokyo Games three years ago – he revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Fellow countrywoman Sha’Carri Richardson outpaced two rivals in the rain to round off her Olympic debut with gold in the relay after settling for silver in the 100 metres.

The United States won the medal count—126 in total, with the women’s basketball team winning gold to close out the event, tying China with 40 gold medals.

The 34 medals, 14 of them gold, were the best U.S. performance in track and field events at a single Games without a boycott since the early 20th century, when there were more events and fewer countries.

Meanwhile, women’s boxing has been embroiled in a culture war over gender misunderstandings surrounding two of its participants.

Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Li Yu-ting have come under scrutiny following a decision by the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association to disqualify them from last year’s world championships on the grounds that they had failed gender tests.

Khelif won gold in the welterweight division and Lin climbed to the top of the podium in the featherweight division to give their country its first boxing gold.