The Paris Olympics has come and passed. The past two weeks, athletes from across the globe competed against each other in 32 different sports with a combined total of 48 different disciplines. Totaling a staggering 206 Nations and teams taking part across the 300 events which took place. Across the full event a staggering 10 thousand participants took part from start to finish. And it was a ll in all a memorable Olympics, with victors becoming champions, brand new world records and the preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics already underway. Unikum is here to recap the moments that mattered the most, the moments that stood out, that made us laugh, cry, and those special moments that made the Olympics of this year stand out from the rest. So, sit back enjoy and relive the 2024 Olympic Games.
Listed with no particular ranking in mind, we’ll start with number 1. With someone who has gone down in history and who will be remembered for generations to come. It’s of course Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral after he scored a silver medal at the Olympics. And whilst a silver medal may not be noteworthy enough, how he did it will impress even those who didn’t follow along. The Turkish shooter, armed with a regular pair of glasses and a gun and one hand buried deep in his side pant pocket, became one of the most noteworthy and rememberable athletes who took part in the Olympics. Garnering him great fame due to his stance and lack of technological equipment. We can all hope for his return at the LA Olympics.
Number 2. Breaking or breakdancing was a new discipline at the Olympics this year, and though it had its ups and downs, it truly had some memorable moments, such as, Raygun. The Australian showed her skills during the B-girls breaking event, and whilst the judges may not have given her a point, her performance granted her great fame afterwards. And her moves such as “the kangaroo” allowed her to express her creativity on the dance floor. She made breaking a truly memorable event showing the world that the Olympics are not only for world class athletes, but also 36-year-old university lecturers.
Number 3. Snoop Dogg; do we really have to say more? Even since the opening ceremony, Snoop showed that he came not just as a celebrity, but as a fan, often showing up during the different events, and more often than not, he could be spotted during the equestrian dressage events following along closely. The energy and spirit he brought lit up the atmosphere from the beginning to the very end of the closing ceremony, and with the next Olympics taking place in LA many will surely call for his return then.
Number 4-5-6. Shining a light on the smaller moments we have. The Semi-naked Smurf, otherwise known as Philippe Katerine, who appeared during the games opening ceremony clad in blue paint and dressed as a Greek god, he made this year’s ceremony one of the most well-known and we applaud him for the courage he showed whilst performing.
Becoming the Olympics unofficial muffin man, we have Henrik Christiansen who spent large parts of his time at the Olympic village enjoying chocolate muffins, in large part due to his daily need for calories. And lest not forget the delicious taste of a fresh baked chocolate muffin.
Number 7-8-9. Moments that really showed what the Olympics was about, athletes coming together to celebrate and share in each other’s glory, athletes who showed true sportsmanship even if they won or lost. And what better way to show the world that we can all co-exist together than the famous picture of South and North Koreans taking a photo together after the tennis mixed doubles had finished. It was a gesture from both teams that showed true sportsmanship.
Another reaction that sparked the internet and watchers were the moment between Zhou Yaqin, Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito. The three were gathered on the podium during their podium ceremony. Alice and Manila posed for photographs whilst they continued the tradition of biting into their medals during the ceremony, unknown to 18-year-old Zhou who had never stood on the podium or experienced the Olympics and its traditions before, she looked to her fellow athletes to understand the previously mentioned tradition, smiled and did as they had. Creating one of the Olympics wholesome and cutest moments this year.
The final wholesome moment saw the Chinese athlete Liu Yuchen propose to teammate Huang Yaqiong after they won the mixed doubles badminton final match. All in all, they left the Olympics with a gold medal, a deep love and connection for each other, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Number 10. The grand finale! Marking an end to this year’s Olympics and transitioning towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 4 years’ time. Tom Cruise in all his fashion, dove from the top of the closing ceremony building, landed safely amongst the crowd before, b eing cheered on by the thousands of fans lining the crowds as he walked through and up to the ceremony plateau, he grabbed an Olympic flag and rode away in Tom Cruise fashion on a motorcycle that signaled the move to the city of stars and angels, Hollywood and Los Angeles.
And so, at last the Olympics has come to an end, but not for forever, and in four years’ time, the lights, the show and the athletes competing against each other for gold and glory returns, until then enjoy the rest of your summer and take care.
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