The torch has been temporarily doused, the athletes have vigorously competed, and the medals have at last been distributed for 2024 Olympics. Two weeks of rollicking competition, enduring images of both victory and defeat, and a mirage of global unity have concluded. The “City of Lights,” Paris, is a bit dimmer this week, as the global spotlight turns elsewhere.
Still, now that the 2024 Olympics are but a memory, let’s reflect on the narratives that percolated most distinctly during these games. Below is a brief recap of the storylines that captured the most sustained interest during the last two weeks.
Medal Count
In 2024, the US emerged as the overall winner in the total medal counting, counting 126 medals, the most won by Americans in a non-boycotted Olympiad. In the gold medal competition, however, the US drew evenly with China, each earning a total of 41 gold medals. Though many athletes affirmed or announced themselves as national icons in Paris, the most victorious athletes were China’s Zhang Yufei, a swimmer, who won six medals; and France’s Leon Merchand, also a swimmer, who won 5 medals.
Simone Biles
In 2021, Simone Biles, the world renowned American gymnast, unexpectedly withdrew from the Olympic games in Tokyo due to psychological issues. She elected to take a multi-year break from gymnastics in order to instead prioritize her mental health. For a while, it remained dubious whether she’d decide to return to competition, though she ultimately did decide to compete in Paris. At the age of 27, she became the oldest female American gymnast to compete on the American team in 72 years. Many, of course, speculated on the viability of her continued dominance. Biles, however, proved her naysayers wrong, leading Team USA to gold and winning an individual all-around gold medal, herself.
Clark Kent on the Pommel Horse
One of the more humorous storylines permeating these Olympics was the story of Stephen Nedoroscik, an avowed Rubik’s Cube enthusiast and US pommel horse gymnast. During the telecast for men’s gymnastics, the camera veered to a focused bespectacled figure determinedly walking toward the pommel, seemingly evaluating it before his routine. After what appeared to be a very thorough examination, the camera quickly cut to Nedoroscik’s parents, before returning to the preparing athlete, his spectacles now having been discarded. A frenzy immediately took hold of X, with many fans anointing Nedoroscik as the “Clark Kent of the pommel horse,” the athlete bearing both a notable resemblance to former Superman star, Christopher Reeves; while also displaying seemingly superhuman feats upon removing his glasses. Nederoscik eventually earned a bronze medal.
The spectacle did not subsist after Nederoscik’s routine, however, gathering further steam on social media in the ensuing days. An American eyewear brand began distributing replica frames of the ones Nederoscik had worn, dubbing them “The Stephen.” Pictures began proliferating across social media of Nederoscik in his frames, alongside pictures of Christopher Reeves’ Superman. Reflecting on his moment of insta-fame, Nederoscik said “It’s been unbelievable the amount of people reaching out and following me and making memes of me – And to think that happened right after a historic event for my team getting the bronze medal…I’ve been consistently on top of this world for the past week now.”
The Final Opus of Legends
Since 2004, when the US Men’s basketball team ignominiously earned a bronze medal in Athens, it had largely resurrected its preeminent status in the world, beginning with the “Redeem Team” in 2008. A loss in the 2023 FIBA World Cup spurred doubts as to the odds of the US prevailing in the subsequent 2024 Olympic games, where opponents like Germany, France, Serbia and Canada loomed large. With an influx of elderly statemen, namely in the personages of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant; the US successfully defended their gold medal in Tokyo, winning a nail-biter against upstart Serbia before winning in the gold medal game against hometown France. Likely the final appearance for at least Curry and James, they are nevertheless retiring from international basketball with crowns firmly placed upon their heads.
Raygun
Who knew that breakdancing was an Olympic sport? Granted, it does require athleticism, creativity, and finesse; but it can nevertheless hardly be regarded as competition of the traditional Olympic variety. The 2024 Olympics introduced a unique niche within break-dancing, displayed most prominently by an “athlete” with a PhD in Cultural Studies from Australia, named Rachel Gunn, also known as “Raygun.” Though it can only be speculated what her true intention was in competing in the breakdancing category, an objective observer might conjecture – not without reason – that she was attempting to satirize the sport. Admittedly, she was summarily eliminated after the round-robin stage of the women’s breakdancing competition, but not before she gained immense traction on social media. Many critiqued her unusual dancing style. She was hilariously awful.
Snoop Dogg: An International Ambassador of Peace?
Snoop Dogg acted as a special correspondent for NBC during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Consequently, his presence was ubiquitous. Whether it was wearing his customized sneakers at the Opening Ceremony, cheering on the US women’s volleyball team in conspicuous trappings, galivanting to various events with Martha Stewart in tow, or closing the games with a performance of his own – Snoop Dogg embraced his role as America’s ambassador to the world with aplomb.
Gender Controversy
Two athletes who failed eligibility tests confirming their purported biological sex were nevertheless allowed to compete in women’s boxing during the 2024 Olympics. Not astonishingly, they both won gold in their respective weight divisions. It cast a pall over the games and portends future controversy over the ethics of whether biological men will be allowed to compete in categories traditionally designated for biological females.
Hometown Hero
Leon Merchand, the French swimmer, captured the heart of his countrymen during his performances in Paris during the 2024 Olympics. At the conclusion of competition, Merchand had collected a total of four gold medals, earning the accolade “The French Phelps.” Some insist Merchand may actually be more talented than Phelps, which isn’t completely fatuous when one considers that Merchand broke Phelps Olympic records in the 400m IM and the 200m IM in Paris. With his star rising, Merchand will certainly have a large target on his back heading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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