2024 Paris Summer Olympics: Looking back at memorable Games - Los Angeles Times
Advertisement

2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games: Complete coverage

Spectators photograph a colorful sunset at Eiffel Tower Stadium prior to a beach volleyball match.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Share via

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games created plenty of memorable moments, from Simone Biles’ all-around triumph in women’s gymnastics to Katie Ledecky becoming the most-decorated woman in U.S. Olympic history.

With nearly 600 athletes competing for the United States, it was a Summer Games full of triumph for a U.S. team that won 40 gold medals and took 126 medals overall to finish atop the medal count.

Here’s a look at everything that happened in France from July 26-August 11, 2024 from The Times’ staff of reporters, columnists and photographers.

Read more

L.A. showcases aspects of its diverse musical culture and star power during its 15-minute showcase at the Paris Olympics’ closing ceremony.

As the dramatic Paris Olympics comes to a close, Bill Plaschke writes that Los Angeles residents should be excited about hosting the 2028 Games.

Britney Griner, who previously was detained in Russia, was emotional when she heard the national anthem during the Olympic gold medal ceremony.

There was an almost comical air of secrecy as dozens, then hundreds, of workers buzzed around Rosie’s dog beach for the Olympics closing ceremony filming.

Controversies over what constitutes a woman and long-standing issues involving attire and appearance continue to create problems for female Olympic athletes.

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles, who hopes to keep her Olympic bronze medal, said she believes ‘people in control will do the right thing.’

USA Gymnastics says it will continue fighting to keep Jordan Chiles’ Olympic bronze medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied its appeal.

The United States overcomes turnover issues to defeat France 67-66 and capture an unprecedented eighth consecutive Olympic women’s basketball gold medal.

The corrupt IOC is taking a stand against sportsmanship, integrity and the Olympic spirit if it continues to demand Jordan Chiles return her medal.

LeBron James directed the offense and Stephen Curry delivered late three pointers to seal the U.S. win over France to clinch an Olympic gold medal.

Mallory Swanson scored as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Brazil to win its first Olympic gold medal in 12 years and silence any murmurs of a decline.

Rachael Gunn, a 36-year-old professor who represented Australia in breakdancing at the Paris Olympics, calls out the ‘hate’ she’s received for her moves.

Kinzang Lhamo of Bhutan was the final runner to cross the finish line in the women’s marathon, showing what it truly means to be an Olympic athlete.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is pushing public transit and remote work to help keep 2028 Olympics traffic manageable, but LA28 is planning for some car use.

The U.S. has filed an appeal of a court ruling against Jordan Chiles, submitting video evidence that shows her coach contested her score in time.

Southern California musical all-stars Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg will be featured during the Olympic closing ceremony.

Ukraine’s Olympic fan clubhouse stands out for its somber atmosphere, with moments of silence for war victims and documentaries about the destruction.

Brittney Griner, a star on the record-setting U.S. women’s basketball team, is grateful she can enjoy the Olympics after life as a Russian prisoner.

Of the 594 Americans competing on Team USA at the Paris Olympics, 121 are from California. Weather, population and athletic tradition help explain it.

Rai Benjamin has long been the runner up in the 400-meter hurdles, but the USC and UCLA alum finally broke through for gold at the Paris Olympics.

American B-girls didn’t advance to the medal round of the first Olympic breaking competition, but they were proud to see their art in the spotlight.

Anna Cockrell went public about her depression years ago, yet her misfortune didn’t cease until the U.S. athlete won silver in the 400-meter hurdles at the Paris Olympics.

Bill May helped convince the IOC to allow men to compete in Olympic artistic swimming, but he fell short of making the U.S. team.

The U.S. men’s water polo team will play for the bronze medal on Sunday, but its young roster could be a strong contender for Olympic gold in 2028.

NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Paris Olympics has averaged 32 million viewers, far more than the Tokyo Games, with the help of Simone Biles and Snoop Dogg.

The U.S. botched two handoffs during the men’s 400-meter relay at the Paris Olympics Friday, leading to a disqualification.

U.S. skateboarder Nyjah Huston says the Olympics needs to ‘step up the quality’ of medals. His bronze from Paris is showing wear and tear after 10 days.

Noah Lyles reportedly was diagnosed with COVID on Tuesday and couldn’t muster a gold-medal performance in the men’s 200 meters at the Paris Olympics.

Even if you’re not competing on a world stage, learning to fuel your body and mind like an Olympic or Paralympic athlete may help you boost your own game.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the Paris Olympic Games, successfully defending her gold medal from the Tokyo Games.

The USA men’s basketball team rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off Serbia and earn a spot in the Olympic gold-medal game.

Quincy Wilson, 16, made his Olympic debut during the 4x400-meter relay preliminary race. He is the second youngest member of Team USA.

The U.S. women’s water polo team lost in a penalty shootout to Australia during an Olympics semifinal. The team is well-versed in handling tragedy.

Of the 594 Americans competing on Team USA at the Paris Olympics, 121 are from California. Weather, population and athletic tradition help explain it.

Breaking, the newest Olympic sport, is trying to breakthrough on the biggest of stages. But will it satisfy the IOC’s desire for TV ratings and younger audiences?

Breaking is entering the Olympic spotlight this week in Paris. DJ Fleg will be one of two DJs playing an important role supporting competitors as they face off.

The U.S. artistic swimming team moved to L.A. last year with the goal of reaching the medal podium in 2028. The Americans surprised by winning silver Wednesday.

Nine U.S. figure skaters received gold medals at the Paris Olympics, 2½ years after their team event at the Beijing Games. Japan got silver and Russia bronze.

Breakers have long had the argument over art vs. sport, but representing the breaking culture at the Olympics is the main goal.

WNBA teammates’ chemistry showed during the U.S. women’s basketball team’s rout of Nigeria during the Paris Olympic women’s basketball quarterfinals.

The landscapes around L.A.’s ports of entry are bleak and ugly, but we can work together and beautify our city for the 2028 Olympics.

NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama is quite literally the biggest French star at the Paris Olympics, inspiring a “Wembamania” among the passionate Les Bleus fans.

Jordan Chiles, who medaled twice at the Paris Olympics, will return to UCLA for her last two seasons. The gymnast won two national titles in 2023 before deferring enrollment last season.

The head of the panel that ruled that Jordan Chiles’ Olympic bronze medal should go to Romanian Ana Barbosu is a lawyer who has represented Romanian interests for years.

LeBron James had 12 points and nine assists to help the United States blow out Brazil 122-87 in the quarterfinals of the Oympic men’s basketball tournament.

Sophia Smith scored in extra time and Alyssa Naeher delivered a clean sheet during the U.S. women’s soccer team’s Olympic semifinal win over Germany.

Olympic medal ceremonies might look straightforward, but displaying the wrong flag or playing the wrong national anthem could spark an international incident.

Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to floor gold medalist Rebeca Andrade. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey called the podium gesture ‘literally disgusting.’

Simone Biles finishes second in floor exercise to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in what likely was the final event of her storied Olympic career. Jordan Chiles earned bronze.

Gabby Thomas added to the United States’ track and field medal haul, winning the women’s 200 meters by a comfortable margin during the 2024 Olympics.

By winning matches on the Olympics stage, the young U.S. men’s soccer team gained valuable experience that could improve its future prospects.

Pommel horse guy, ‘muffin man’ and Turkey’s shooter are among the sources of memes at the Paris Olympics.

Immediately after the men’s Olympic 100 meters finished, another race started, among officials, that decided Noah Lyles had earned Paris gold.

A look at the decades-long evolution of the onetime gangsta rapper who now finds himself the family-friendly star of NBC’s Olympics coverage.

Katie Ledecky has exhausted superlatives to describe her Olympic dominance after securing her fourth Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle.

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles finishes ahead of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in the individual vault to earn her third gold medal of the Paris Olympics.

American Caroline Marks won the women’s surfing gold medal during the Summer Olympics in Tahiti on Monday.

Ryan Crouser has won three Olympic gold medals in shot put, but it was a solemn innovation in an Arkansas barn that turned him into a groundbreaker.

Jordan Chiles earned her first individual Olympic medal in thrilling fashion, with her coach requesting a review that clinched her bronze medal finish.

Masters winner Scottie Scheffler goes on a birdie binge, shooting a 62 over the final round to edge silver medalist Tommy Fleetwood for Paris Olympic gold.

American Noah Lyles, who long bragged he was the world’s fastest man, won the men’s 100-meter final in a photo finish at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

After an 0-3 start, the U.S. women’s 3x3 basketball team rallied to beat Canada in the bronze-medal game Monday at the Paris Olympics.

Taiwan’s first Olympic win this year has reignited controversy over the island’s push for self-determination against Chinese control.

As “culture coach” for the U.S. women’s volleyball team, former UCLA softball coaching legend Sue Enquist is helping the squad maximize its potential.

U.S. gymnast Suni Lee wins her third Olympic medal of the Paris Games, taking bronze on the uneven bars. Kaylia Nemour, representing Algeria, wins gold.

Simone Biles put on a diamond-encrusted goat necklace after winning Olympic gold, sparking interest in the Calabasas jeweler who created it.

Stephen Nedoroscik, who helped the U.S. capture bronze in the Olympic gymnastics team event, earns another bronze in the individual pommel horse event.

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, including the final medal count and results.

The 2024 Paris Games are a made-for-TV Olympics with the Eiffel Tower, Château de Versailles, the Seine and the Grand Palais each hosting events.

Trinity Rodman scores in extra time as the United States escapes with a 1-0 victory over Japan to advance to the Paris Olympic semifinals.

Julien Alfred delivered Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal and blocked American star Sha’Carri Richardson from claiming gold in the 100-meter dash.

Simone Biles’ redemption tour continues, with the star winning the Paris Olympics women’s gymnastics individual all-around gold medal Thursday.

Many of the Olympic triathletes who swam in the Seine River this week say the current was a much bigger problem than any pollution they encountered.

Boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting are caught in the middle of a fierce debate over their right to fight as women in the Paris Olympics.

The U.S. men’s soccer team loses 4-0 to Morocco, but the team’s run to the Paris Olympic quarterfinals ultimately showed the team has made progress.

Katie Ledecky embraces expectations to dominate the 1,500-meter freestyle race, but she says it isn’t easy. She celebrated winning the race Wednesday.

Scorching temperatures are taking a toll on Olympic athletes in Paris. What is the IOC doing to address the impact climate change is having on the Games?

Suni Lee was ready to quit gymnastics amid an ongoing battle with kidney diseases. Her decision to not give up has paid off in gold and bronze medals.

The internet swooned when Stephen Nedoroscik, who wears glasses and solves Rubik’s Cubes, nailed his pommel horse routine to seal a U.S. Olympic medal.

The U.S. women’s soccer team heads into its Olympic quarterfinal match against Japan undefeated and leading the tournament in goals.

Veronica Fraley, a U.S. discus thrower at the Paris Olympics, was having financial trouble back home. Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian helped pay off her rent for the year.

Simone Biles, who has won gold twice at the Paris Olympics, weighs in on former President Trump’s controversial comments about immigrants taking ‘Black jobs.’

Lauren Scruggs closed strong to help the U.S. win women’s team foil gold at the Olympics, giving teammate Lee Kiefer her third gold medal.

Dismissed positive drug tests for Chinese swimmers and the IOC’s push to stop a potential FBI investigation into the matter has angered many U.S. swimmers.

Pouring rain can’t derail a bold Paris Olympic opening ceremony that featured athletes on the Seine and performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.

Read analysis of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony from our television writers, who weighed in on the spectacle held on the Seine.

The U.S. men’s soccer team loses 4-0 to Morocco, but the team’s run to the Paris Olympic quarterfinals ultimately showed the team has made progress.

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony will feature roughly 90 boats floating down the Seine and thousands of spectators, creating many security challenges.

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles will have plenty of supporters in her corner when she competes at the Paris Olympics, including recording superstar Beyoncé.

Simone Biles appears to have gotten the last word in a beef with ex-teammate MyKayla Skinner after the U.S. gymnastics team won gold at the Paris Olympics.

The Summer Games in Paris have been a star-studded affair. But for The Times’ most avid Olympic watchers, NBC’s focus on celebrities has been largely an annoying distraction.

The U.S. women’s national team rolled to a 3-0 victory over Zambia, winning coach Emma Hayes’ first major competition match.

Hezly Rivera makes history as the fifth Latina to represent USA women’s gymnastics and the youngest to compete this year across all Team USA sports.

Often enough the grandeur, audacity and nuttiness of the opening ceremony shone through onscreen, but commentary, cutaways and commercials fragmented the TV experience, our critic writes.

The idea of an air-conditioning-free Summer Olympics in Paris may have been well intentioned, but ultimately focuses on the wrong things.

John Cherwa is your daily guide to the Paris Olympics, offering news, analysis, laughter (we think) and invaluable daily TV listings.

John Cherwa is your daily guide to the Paris Olympics, offering news, analysis, laughter (we think) and invaluable daily TV listings.

Olympians Simone Manuel and Shaine Casas have a chance to inspire a new generation of swimmers in a sport traditionally plagued by diversity issues.

Jessica Bartley makes sure Team USA’s 529 Olympic and Paralympic athletes are in top mental form when they compete in Paris. Here’s how they do it.

Rugby star Ilona Maher, arguably the biggest breakout athlete of the Paris Olympics, is using social media to champion body positivity and women’s empowerment.

The U.S. men get out of the group stage and look to reach the semifinals for the first time. The U.S. women’s team is looking to end a gold-medal drought.

Married fencers Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt not only are working to become doctors, but they’re also trying to win gold in what may be their final Olympics.

The Yurchenko double pike has become Simone Biles’ signature move in the vault, a gravity-defying, six-second burst that has added to her legend.

U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky dropped her first showdown with Australian rival Ariarne Titmus, placing third in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympics.

A mix of cultural and technical changes have helped 27-year-old Simone Biles and other older gymnasts keep competing.

Chase Budinger played in the NBA for seven seasons before transitioning to beach volleyball. He and Miles Evans are hoping to surprise in the Paris Olympics.

UCLA star Jordan Chiles put on a show during the Paris Olympics, getting the crowd on its feet and inspiring her teammates during their gold-medal run.

Simone Biles appears to injure her lower left leg, but the American gymnast still puts in a strong enough performance to lead all-around qualifications.

Peter Ueberroth and the leadership of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics proved that a mammoth event like the Games could be won as soon as the Olympic flame is lighted.

Billy Mills, the last American to win the Olympic 10,000 meters in 1964, believes distance star Grant Fisher is capable of winning the race in Paris.

The 2024 Paris Games are a made-for-TV Olympics with the Eiffel Tower, Château de Versailles, the Seine and the Grand Palais each hosting events.

Maggie Steffens, arguably the greatest women’s water polo star of all time, isn’t afraid to ask for help showcasing one of Team USA’s top squads.

LA28’s new executive director once helped house thousands of troops in Afghanistan and even he finds the logistics of hosting Olympics far from easy.

UCLA’s Emma Malabuyo finishes tied for the highest score among the three Filipina gymnasts competing in the all-around competition at the Paris Olympics.

L.A. Times photojournalist Wally Skalij captures scenes, inside looks and perspectives that make the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris the spectacle it is.

Kevin Durant scores 23 points and LeBron James finishes with 21 points as the U.S. opens play at the Paris Olympics with a 110-84 win over Serbia.

Amid reports Canada’s national soccer teams have secretly filmed their opponents, it’s fair to wonder if their recent rise is fueled by cheating.

Lee Kiefer faced off with Lauren Scruggs in an all American women’s foil final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, with Kiefer repeating as gold medalist.

Céline Dion describes her Olympics performance as a ‘dream come true’ after returning to the world stage at the 2024 Games’ globally viewed opening ceremony.

A significant strategy change put the U.S. men’s gymnastics team in position to clinch a team bronze medal during the Paris Olympics on Monday.

It’s been 16 years since the U.S. men’s soccer team last played in an Olympic Games. Will their depleted roster be able to make it out of group play?

Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey rebounded from finishing second in Tokyo, winning gold in Olympic gymnastics team competition.

A dramatic win over Australia in the bronze-medal match gave the U.S. women’s rugby sevens its first medal and a boost ahead of the 2028 Olympics in L.A.

A photo of Brazian surfer Gabriel Medina appearing to defy gravity has gone viral from the Paris Olympics. Photographer Jerome Brouillet calls it a ‘once-in-a-lifetime shot.’

Colin Jost of ‘SNL,’ who is hosting 2024 Olympics surfing in Tahiti, reveals foot injuries: He has been in the ‘medical tent more than any of the athletes.’

Yuto Horigome of Japan successfully defends his gold medal in men’s street skateboard competition, beating Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston with a spectacular final trick.

American Ryan Murphy became the first male since 1976 to win a medal in the 100-meter backstroke in three consecutive Olympics.

Conservatives say a scene from the opening ceremony is a dig at Christianity and “The Last Supper,” but Olympics officials say it was a depiction of the Greek god Dionysus.

After months of anticipation, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the Seine, fulfilling a promise to show the river is clean enough.

Saber fencer Eli Dershwitz is among the many United States athletes who struggle to keep up with rising costs associated with being an Olympic athlete.

With questions being raised about Israel being allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics, its athletes are determined to ‘show the best they can do.’

After extensive concerns about the notoriously dirty Seine River’s water quality, triathletes swam through it on Wednesday at the Paris Olympic Games.

After two Olympics were played under COVD-19 restrictions, fans are showing up to the Paris Olympics, much to the delight of athletes and organizers.

Two of the five athletes on the U.S. Olympic surf team hail from San Clemente; a third lives in Oceanside. They will compete in massive, barreling swells in Tahiti, a bold choice that has some safety-conscious experts shaking their heads.

Nyjah Huston is the Michael Jordan of skateboarding, but he flopped in Tokyo. No longer a gold-medal favorite, can he find redemption at the Paris Olympics?

Snoop Dogg’s latest gig? Olympic torchbearer. The rapper will carry the torch as part of the Games’ opening ceremony Friday, a Paris-adjacent mayor announces.

With L.A. hosting the Summer Games in 2028, city and county leaders are heading to the City of Light to see what lessons L.A. will need to learn.

After discovering the challenges of motherhood, Allyson Felix got the idea of establishing a nursery at the Olympic village. Then she made it happen.

The U.S. women’s soccer team hasn’t won its last three major tournaments, and its chances of winning Olympic gold in Paris do not look promising.

GK Elite Sportswear created unique leotard designs to help Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera sparkle at the Olympics.

The Lakers star is leading a contingent of America’s best basketball talent possibly ever assembled to claim what might be the last championship he’ll win.

Fresh off leading UCLA to back-to-back NCAA titles, John Speraw is hoping to tap the U.S. men’s volleyball team’s gold potential at the Paris Olympics.

The geography of Flagstaff, Ariz., makes it a mecca for distance runners. It also could makes it an attractive training ground ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Political upheaval and other issues plaguing Paris ahead of the start of the Summer Olympics threaten to dwarf whatever is floating in the Seine.

They could have the best chances of the U.S. boxers at the Paris Olympics to bring home medals. Each took a difficult path to get there.

Amid budget woes that led one of her Mexican diving teammates to raise money on OnlyFans, Gaby Agúndez is overcoming all obstacles to win gold in Paris.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are underway and 594 athletes will be competing for the United States. Here’s everything you need to know about the Games.

Advertisement