As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, we take a look back at 8 iconic photos and key moments of the Games

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The Olympic Games are a drug for the soul, especially in times like these, when the world feels more divided than ever. Seeing people at the top of their sport chasing their dreams with discipline sends a powerful message. Of course, fans won’t soon forget the incredible show of respect when Team USA’s Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil on the medal ceremony stage in the women’s artistic gymnastics floor final.

All in all, the last 16 days have been a great display of material and exceptional sportsmanship. While it’s impossible to summarize the grand event, here’s a reminder of some of the highlights. Let’s hope to carry this Olympic spirit until the world meets again, in Los Angeles in 2028.

Team USA

At the time of this writing, Team USA won 104 medals in Paris. This includes 30 gold, 38 silver, and 36 bronze medals. On July 31, the United States reached the milestone of becoming the only country to win 3,000 Olympic medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. (Relatively speaking, some countries don’t even have half that amount.)

Gymnastics

It was a great year for both the men’s and women’s gym. In the women’s events, Team USA took gold in the team competition, following what they called their “redemption journey” after Simone Biles pulled out of Tokyo 2020. Biles then won gold in the individual all-around and vault events, as well as silver in the floor exercise competition, cementing her GOAT status.

Suni Lee made an impressive comeback from kidney disease, taking bronze medals from everyone on the all-around and uneven bars to become America’s seventh most decorated female gymnast. Jade Carey took bronze in the vault. Jordan Chiles almost didn’t make it in the floor exercise, but the urging of his coaches helped him get the bronze medal.

On the men’s side, Paul Juda, Frederick Richard, Asher Hong, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Brody Malone took the team bronze. This ended a 16-year drought for American teams and helped revitalize the sport. Nedoroscik, known as the pommel horse guy, went on to win bronze in his special event. He also won the hearts of the internet.

Swimming

Katie Ledecky cemented her legacy in the pool at these Games. She became America’s most decorated female Olympian, with 14 medals to her name. In Paris, she won gold in the 800m (fourth Olympics in a row!) and 1500m freestyles, silver in the 4x200m relay, and bronze in the 400m freestyle. He even went further and set a new Olympic record in the 1500m freestyle. Ledecky will carry the flag for Team USA during the Closing Ceremony.

After the disappointment of the first Olympics in Tokyo, Leon Marchand returned with a vengeance in Paris. The 22-year-old coached in the US with Bob Bowman, who guided Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic medals. Marchand won four gold medals and set a record in the 200m individual medley.

Track and field

American runner Noah Lyles spoke about the big game before the competition. He was able to live according to his majority, but then COVID got in the way. Lyles won gold in the men’s 100m, and was desperate to repeat that in the 200m, but ended up third for a bronze medal. He withdrew from the men’s 4x100m relay after developing severe symptoms of the virus.

Sha’Carri Richardson took home two medals in Paris. She won silver in the 100m and gold in the women’s 4x100m relay. This was his first Olympic Games after being disqualified from competing in Tokyo due to testing positive for THC.

Gabby Thomas took home gold in the women’s 200m with a race time of 21.83 seconds. His secret is prerace burpees (a conditioning exercise) to get his heart rate up.

The Olympic Refugee Team

Almost a decade ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) created the 2015 Olympic Refugee Team to draw attention to the plight of refugees around the world and offer a sign of hope. With 37 athletes participating in Paris this year, the group has almost tripled in size since the 10-member team started at the 2016 Rio Games. And now, with the honor of boxer Cindy Ngamba, this tough refugee group has received its first medal. Namba won bronze—and a place in history.

The fence

Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jackie Dubrovich, and Maia Weintraub also earned a place in the Olympic history books. The American fencing team lived up to its nickname of “Wrek-It Ralfs”, taking home Team USA’s first ever gold in the event. The United States has been competing since 1904, so this is an impressive feat—but it doesn’t stop there. Kiefer and Scruggs also won gold and silver, respectively, in the first all-American Olympic final in the women’s foil individual event.

It’s basketball

After defeating Australia on Friday in the semifinals, the USA women’s basketball team has now won 60 games in a row. The athletes are ready to fight for gold on Sunday. If they win, it will be their eighth gold medal in a row. The American women’s basketball team has been around since 1992.

Snoop Dogg

Perhaps the most surprising, but positive, aspect of these performances is Snoop Dogg’s presence on the air. Officially, he was a special correspondent for NBC, but his genuine passion for the Games made him so much more. He kept things moving like an Olympic torch bearer and didn’t drop it like it was hot. She cheered on Team USA and their family members, swam with Michael Phelps, and even overcame her fear of horses with her friend Martha Stewart. Let’s hope he brings it to Los Angeles.

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