Triumph, agony, ecstasy, joy, and enormous levels of tension are just some of the emotions immortalized by the talented team of photographers at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Using lightning-fast reflexes and the latest technology, they continue to capture the perfect moments when the athletes’ performances reach the apex of their glory.
From the peak of a high jump to the exact second a gymnast’s muscles strike the perfect angle. From feats of unparalleled coordination in synchronized swimming to the blinding speed of a bike race. Have a look at some of the most impressive showcases of human excellence captured at this year’s Games.
Using lightning-fast reflexes and the latest technology, they continue to capture the perfect moments when the athletes’ performances reach the apex of their glory.
From the peak of a high jump to the exact second a gymnast’s muscles strike the perfect angle. From feats of unparalleled coordination in synchronized swimming to the blinding speed of a bike race. Have a look at some of the most impressive showcases of human excellence captured at this year’s Games.
#1 Team USA’s Mclain Ward And His Horse, Ilex, Seem To Be Almost Flying In An Impressive Feat Of Human-To-Animal Coordination
The pair started training together in February 2024 and have many prosperous years of competition ahead. After their performance at the Olympics, McLain already confirmed their participation in the next edition of the games.
“Ilex was brilliant. He has many great days ahead in his future, and I’m very grateful to everyone who has brought us together. Most of all, I am forever grateful and thankful for the people around me who continue to be unwavering in their support and belief in chasing our dreams,” he wrote on his Instagram page.
“Tonight, my thoughts are on L.A. 28! The stage is set on our home soil to get the job done!”
“Ilex was brilliant. He has many great days ahead in his future, and I’m very grateful to everyone who has brought us together. Most of all, I am forever grateful and thankful for the people around me who continue to be unwavering in their support and belief in chasing our dreams,” he wrote on his Instagram page.
“Tonight, my thoughts are on L.A. 28! The stage is set on our home soil to get the job done!”
Report
55points
#2 Rebeca Andrade Became Brazil’s Most Decorated Athlete After Securing The Gold Medal With Astounding Precision
With her victory and sixth medal (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze), Andrade has become the most decorated Brazilian Olympian, surpassing her compatriots Robert Scheidt (2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze) and Torben Grael (2 silver and 2 bronze).
Report
54points
#3 Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli Holds A Ball In Her Neck As Her Body Reaches A Level Of Mid-Air Tension So That Her Head Seems All But Replaced By The Object
Described as a “master storyteller on the floor,” the 20-year-old athlete from Marche made her debut in Paris.
"Every exercise this year has its own story. It's really something emotional that gets to the heart of the spectators, and that, I think, is the most beautiful thing about rhythmic gymnastics. It is crucial that when I take the floor, I am able to convey all the emotions that one can feel," she said in an interview with Olympics.com.
"Every exercise this year has its own story. It's really something emotional that gets to the heart of the spectators, and that, I think, is the most beautiful thing about rhythmic gymnastics. It is crucial that when I take the floor, I am able to convey all the emotions that one can feel," she said in an interview with Olympics.com.
Report
49points
#4 Ukraine’s Taisiia Onofriichuk’s Legs Form A Perfect Arc As She Dazzled The Audience With Her Routine, Accompanied By Michael Jackson’s Thriller
At just 16 years of age, this Ukrainian athlete has already proven herself formidable, winning 17 medals since her debut representing her country in 2021.
She is also the 2024 European hoop bronze medalist, the 2023 Junior World Clubs silver medalist, and the 2024 Ukrainian all-around champion.
She is also the 2024 European hoop bronze medalist, the 2023 Junior World Clubs silver medalist, and the 2024 Ukrainian all-around champion.
Report
47points
#5 Ukrainian Star Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s Gold Medal-Winning Jump Was Perfectly Captured At The Apex Of Its Height
The Ukrainian star made her home country proud at a particularly difficult moment, delivering smiles when they were most needed.
Mahuchikh’s athletic feats are not the only thing making headlines these days, as she recently announced her partnership with Vogue, combining her sports career with modeling.
Mahuchikh’s athletic feats are not the only thing making headlines these days, as she recently announced her partnership with Vogue, combining her sports career with modeling.
Report
46points
#6 The Vertigo-Inducing Speed Of New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston, Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman And Nicole Shields Was Perfectly Captured During The Women's Team Pursuit
This competition combines blazingly fast speeds of around 50 to 70 km/h with the need to maintain coordination with your team. It’s also taxing on the body due to the strength needed to maintain stability on the bike and the endurance required to reach the finish line.
Report
45points
#7 Spain’s Women’s Synchronized Swimming Team Topped A Beautiful Routine With Colorful Suits That Made Them Look Like Mermaids
Demanding a tremendous level of acrobatic and aerobic skill, the sport is a blend of ballet and swimming.
These swimmers train for years to coordinate their movements and strike beautiful poses underwater, all while delivering enchanting, theatrical performances that make it all seem effortless.
These swimmers train for years to coordinate their movements and strike beautiful poses underwater, all while delivering enchanting, theatrical performances that make it all seem effortless.
Report
45points
#8 The Impressive Coordination Of Great Britain’s Thomas Daley And Noah Williams Awarded Them The Silver Medal In The Men’s 10m Platform Final
The tried-and-tested duo had already claimed the silver medal at the 2024 World Aquatic Championships. Daley is also an Olympic veteran, having earned the bronze medal in Rio 2016 and the gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
Report
44points
#9 Egyptian Fencer Nada Hafez Achieves An Emotional Victory After Qualifying While Pregnant With A 7-Month-Old Little Olympian
“What appears to you as two players on the podium were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come-to-our-world, little baby!” the fencer wrote after her victory.
“My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, both physical and emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, but worth it.”
“My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, both physical and emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, but worth it.”
Report
43points
#10 Sweden’s Armand Duplantis Delivers A Stunning 6-Meter Jump To Seize Olympic Gold And Register A New World Record
Duplantis dazzled audiences when he broke his own world record with an astonishing 6.24-meter jump, which also secured him the Olympic gold medal.
His movie star-like good looks also made him go viral after netizens noticed he looked like the “long-lost brother” of actor Timothée Chalamet.
His movie star-like good looks also made him go viral after netizens noticed he looked like the “long-lost brother” of actor Timothée Chalamet.
Report
43points
#11 Quan Hongchan Of China Defies Gravity In A Perfect Dive, Securing Her A Second Gold Medal At Just 17 Years Of Age
Having earned her first gold medal after a record-breaking performance at the Tokyo Olympics when she was just 14 years of age, the athlete has rightfully been described as a prodigy of the sport.
Report
43points
#12 Korea’s Shin Yu-bin Seems To Freeze The Ball Mid-Air Before Sending It Back To Her Chinese Rival During The Women’s Table Tennis Semi-Final
The Korean star started playing when she was just 3 years old and says she began training seriously at age five.
She cites her father as her greatest inspiration, who, far from pushing her into the sport, just wants her to be happy and fulfilled.
“We are like best friends. I share everything about the sport with him. But he always told me that he just wanted me to live a happy life and not to train too much so as not to get stressed. It rather made me keep working hard,” she said in an interview with MBC Sports.
She cites her father as her greatest inspiration, who, far from pushing her into the sport, just wants her to be happy and fulfilled.
“We are like best friends. I share everything about the sport with him. But he always told me that he just wanted me to live a happy life and not to train too much so as not to get stressed. It rather made me keep working hard,” she said in an interview with MBC Sports.
Report
38points
#13 USA’s Marcus Christopher Seems To Be Climbing The Luxor Obelisk On His Bike During The BMX Freestyle Men’s Park Final
Having performed just short of Olympic bronze, Christopher still achieved the best result for the United States in men's BMX freestyle at the Olympics, paving the way for future accolades.
Report
36points
#14 Rhys McClenaghan Wins Ireland's First-Ever Olympic Gymnastics Medal, With Gold On The Pommel Horse
After Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan scored a massive 15.433 points before him, all seemed lost for the Irish athlete.
Far from being intimidated, McClenaghan gave it his all to deliver an astounding routine with supreme execution and extension, earning him a score of 15.533 points and the gold medal along with it.
Far from being intimidated, McClenaghan gave it his all to deliver an astounding routine with supreme execution and extension, earning him a score of 15.533 points and the gold medal along with it.
Report
32points
#15 Ireland’s Erin King’s Incredible Strength Helps Her Lift Her Teammate Emily Lane While She Risked It All To Catch The Ball
The maneuver combines strength and technique with the momentum generated by the catcher’s jump to keep the ball out of the opponent’s hands.
For longtime watchers of the sport, it might not be a rare sight, but for Olympic audiences, the clip was impressive enough to go viral, attracting new fans along the way.
For longtime watchers of the sport, it might not be a rare sight, but for Olympic audiences, the clip was impressive enough to go viral, attracting new fans along the way.
Report
31points
#16 Simone Biles Continued To Inspire Little Girls Across America With A Beautiful Performance At The Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final
The gymnastics star successfully completed her “comeback tour” by winning four medals, sharing her victories with both teammates and rivals alike.
The Paris 2024 event revitalized her career and also shone a light on many new exciting faces, making it one of the most-viewed sporting events in history, breaking the BBC Sport record with 218 million streams.
The Paris 2024 event revitalized her career and also shone a light on many new exciting faces, making it one of the most-viewed sporting events in history, breaking the BBC Sport record with 218 million streams.
Report
22points