The Paris 2024 Olympics ended with surprises, upsets, and a great closing ceremony. The last day was as exciting as always. The U.S. and China both finished with 40 golds but the U.S. won overall with 125 to China’s 91.
It was also a day of drama. The International Olympic Committee told U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles she had to return her bronze medal from last week’s floor exercise final. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her appeal, which had moved her up from 5th to 3rd, was invalid. Ouch for Chiles and her fans who love her.
In basketball, the U.S. women added to their legacy with a 67-66 win over France to take their 8th straight Olympic gold. The game was a nail-biter with France pushing the Americans to the limit in front of a frenzied home crowd. In the end experience and resilience won out for the U.S. team.
On the streets of Paris, the women’s marathon was one of the day’s best. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won gold in a sprint finish, pulling away from Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in the last 100 meters. Helen Obiri of Kenya took bronze. The marathon medals were presented during the closing ceremony which added to the evening’s emotionalism.
Closing Ceremony and Transition to LA 2028
The closing ceremony was a big affair with all the stars. French indie band Phoenix got the party started in the sold-out stadium. The handover to the 2028 Los Angeles Games featured Tom Cruise in a stunt and performances by H.E.R., the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Billie Eilish. The transition from Paris to LA was a nice reminder of the Olympic’s global reach and cultural impact.
As the flame was snuffed out and the Paris Games ended, attention turned to the Paralympics which will also be in Paris. The Paralympics start August 28 and will go for 11 days with more incredible stories of athletic heroism.
If you want to relive the Paris Olympics, every moment and every medal can be streamed on Peacock. As we say goodbye to Paris 2024, the hype for LA 2028 is already underway.
