With the 2024 Paris Olympics in the books, it’s time to look back at some of the moments that electrified Stade de France (and the streets outside of it) during over a week of must-watch action.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the ultimate gold standard
There seems to be no limit to what Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can achieve and she declared on a world stage that she is one of the undisputed faces of track and field. Her performance in the women’s 400m hurdles was equal parts expectation, textbook execution of her craft and well-planned theatrics. And it all played out in prime time, first with McLaughlin-Levrone’s world record 50.37s trip around the track — her sixth time breaking the mark.
Then she joined her American teammates Shamier Little, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes in total domination of the women’s 4x400m relay in 3:15.27. Her 47.71 split on the second leg put the race out of race with little question. The overall time was more than good enough for gold and wiped away the prior national record from the Seoul Games in 1988. The question remained whether McLaughlin-Levrone could have — and should have — ran the 400m outright and claimed a spot on the 4x100m relay and increased her gold haul.
Sifan Hassan wins three medals, including a marathon thriller
The Paris Games were the showcase of some amazing human feats of strength of Sifan Hassan made sure she created headlines as the Olympics unfolded. Shortly before track and field took center stage, Hassan confirmed that was participating in three events: 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon — and somewhat mirroring the triple she pulled off in Tokyo.
The Dutch athlete collected a pair of bronze medals under the lights of Stade de France in the 5,000m and 10,000m, but saved her best work for the final day of competition at the Olympics. In a stunner, Hassan bolted past Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in the final moments of the women’s marathon and kicked to a 2:22:55 finish — and Olympic record. The two runners collided with the finish line in sight, with the 31-year-old Hassan proving her versatility and showing she was durable enough to run 38 total miles at the Games. She left Paris three medals heavier and added another chapter to her growing legend.
Ryan Crouser is golden again with his third straight shot put win
The king of the throwing circle Ryan Crouser made sure that no other athlete would throw a 16-pound ball farther or harder. Crouser’s 22.90m throw in the shot put final gave the American his third straight Olympic gold. The 31-year-old Crouser is in a rare space in the event historically with the three peat and looks to be in the mix at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Team USA’s relays (mostly) dominant performances
The Americans proved once again that versatility in track and field would be a mix of captivating individual marks but the relays would signal the true power of teamwork. And that was mostly true as Team USA grabbed gold in the women’s 4x400m, men’s 4x400m and women’s 4x100m.
But the team struggled in the mixed 4x400m final after a world record showing in qualifying. Meanwhile, the men’s 4x100m squad fell victim to late changes prior to the race and would be disqualified for a sloppy baton exchange.
Mondo Duplantis leaps into the record books in pole vault glory
Mondo Duplantis is literally pushing himself into rarified air and cracked his own world record, clearing 6.25m in the pole vault — and claiming his second straight Olympic title. The 24-year-old Swedish vaulter was already in a safe space in the final with a successful 6.10m attempt but took the sport to new heights on his way to the gold. He flew past his prior mark by an inch.
Duplantis is the first repeat champion in the Olympic pole vault since American Bob Richards (1952, 1956) and his gold is the latest in a growing resume that includes a win in Tokyo and three world championships. He first broke the world record in 2020 and pushing past his own mark has now become an expected part of his reputation once he steps on the track.
Cole Hocker’s dramatic late kick was a gold medal stunner
One of the biggest — and most exciting — wild cards came in the men’s 1,500m final when Cole Hocker, 23, stole the show with a gutsy kick with 50 meters to take the gold. The American bolted past the favorites in 3:27.65, an Olympic record, and rewrote his own version of who would be on the podium in Paris.
Great Britain’s Josh Kerr and Hocker’s teammate Yared Nuguse settled for silver and bronze, while Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen strategy of dominating from the start failed and he finished 4th and out of medal contention. This was a return to gold for the Americans since Matt Centrowitz pulled off a gritty in Rio in 2016. And it is the first time two Americans will share the podium in the 1500m since 1912 in Stockholm.
Faith Kipyegon wins her third straight 1,500m title
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon became the master of her own legend by wining gold in the women’s 1,500m in 3:51.29 — a new Olympic record. She is now the first athlete to win three straight Olympic 1,500m titles. Kipyegon, 30, started her gold medal journey in the 1,500m at the 2016 Rio Games (4:08.92) and shaved 15 seconds from that mark in 2021 in Tokyo (3:53.11).
She shook off early drama in Paris after she was disqualified from the 5,000m final but later reinstated and awarded the silver medal after a minor collision during the race.
Julien Alfred’s storybook ending in the 100m final
Julien Alfred won Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal in stunning fashion with an upset win over American Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m final. Alfred, 23, crossed the finish line in 10.72 seconds, making her the eighth fastest woman ever in the event. Alfred’s dominant performance made her an instant star back home and she was greeted with a parade-like reception when she returned to the island nation.
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