This summer, you may have found yourself feeling slightly more patriotic than usual. Perhaps you found yourself cheering for other nations in sports you’d never watched before, but could now provide flawless commentary on. Or maybe you’ve finally given into the hype and signed up to your local run club. If any of the above applies to you, you might just have come down with a case of Olympic Fever!
Both the Paralympic and Olympic ceremonies have drawn to a close in Paris, and with preparations already underway for LA’28, we take a look back at the successes of the most recent Games, and those gone before, to reflect on the athletes that personified the pride of their nations.
1. Small but Mighty
It is the second Olympic weekend and the first for track and field. The rain has not stopped falling over the Stade de France, but still, eight women assume their starting position, all with sights on crossing the line first and taking another coveted spot in Olympic 100m immortality. Amongst the women are American powerhouse and favourite Sha’Carri Richardson; Great Britain’s growingly formidable Daryl Neita; Ivorian legend Ta Lou-Smith; and the quietly brilliant Julien Alfred of St Lucia. Alfred already made history just four months prior by clinching the 60m World Indoor gold medal, and as she stormed out of the blocks and thundered down the wet Parisian track, she ensured she repeated that feat by claiming the 100m Olympic crown.
With smaller or less recognised nations, there is often a sense of collectively and when one wins, we all win. There is a Jamaican saying, ‘likkle but wi Tallawah,’ - we may be small, but we are strong, and this sentiment echoed around the stadium as a grand total of five medals came home to the Caribbean on this night. Rajindra Campbell of Jamaica started the brigade with a bronze medal in the men’s shot-put final; followed by a Caribbean 1-2 in the long jump, where Thea Lafond also made history as Dominica’s first ever medal winner and gold medal winner; Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts secured second place; Julien claimed her gold; and Lindon Victor rounded a victorious Saturday night off with a bronze medal for Grenada in the men’s Decathlon.
After week-long celebrations and festivities, September 27th was recognised as ‘Julien Alfred day’ in St Lucia and celebrated as a national holiday, whilst Thea Lafond received a heroine’s welcome of a motorcade and celebration rally in August when she returned to rest and recover in her native Dominica.
It’s always been more than sport.
2. Super Saturday
From one sizzling Saturday night in Paris, to a ‘Super Saturday’ in London, another round of Olympic gold medals were destined to be won by the host nation’s track and field athletes in the short space of 44 incredible minutes of sport.
Jessica Ennis led the golden charge by crossing the line first in the 800m and smashing her own British record in the Heptathlon. Across the track and feeding off the growing excitement rising in the home ground was Greg Rutherford. On his fourth jump he soared to a staggering 8.31m, claiming gold in the field event and becoming the only British man since 1964 to win gold in the long jump. And finally, on his 25th and final lap of the 10,000m, Sir Mo Farah was roared down the home straight by an 80,000 strong crowd to claim the final gold medal on an absolutely sensational night of British athleticism.
Away from the track earlier in the day, 6 gold medals were won first on the water, with the rowing team in the men’s coxless four and the women’s lightweight double sculls, before moving over to a different track as Team GB’s women won the cycling pursuit. Silvers were also won back on the water in the men’s lightweight double sculls. Described as, “a narrative of infectious success,” the events of Super Saturday, 2012, was the most successful sporting night for British athletes since 1908. It is a day that has sealed its place in Olympic history.
3. Like Lightning
Naturally, when it comes to international sporting events, a whole nation rallies behind its athletes. But every now and then, a Superstar appears amongst the rest, and they capture the pride of the World. Enter Usain Bolt.
In his first Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 at just 21 years old, Bolt became the first Olympic runner to break both the 100m and 200m World Record at the same Olympics, with what felt like an age to celebrate before he had even crossed the line. Two days later he helped Jamaica to another Olympic gold in the 4x100m. Oh, and another World Record.* The Olympic accolades pour in from there.
Having retired from the track in 2017, Bolt’s dominant career leaves behind three unbroken Olympic World Records in each of his disciplines, eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, and eleven World Championships. Some people are world-class, others, a class of their own.
4. It Takes A Village
In sport, there can obviously only be one winner. However, this Olympic cycle, camaraderie seemed to be the underlying theme of the Games. This was something most notable in the women’s gymnastics.
In a year of many personal and professional battles, the Tokyo Olympic Games saw Simone Biles pull out of four of the six events she had qualified for. Of the events she did compete in, Biles admirably won a bronze in the beam, and a silver in the team event. After a two-year break from gymnastics, Biles returned to the Olympic Games with a point to prove, though, perhaps more to herself, than the millions of quietly expectant eyes following her around the arena.
And prove a point, she did. Giving thanks to her gym, fellow Team USA teammates and speaking openly about the freedom therapy gave back to her, Simone vaulted her way to history and clinched gold in the team event, all-round final and vault final. Though competitors, the Team USA girls clapped, cheered and rallied for each other after each of their individual performances. This sense of unity could be seen amongst all the girls, who actively applauded their competition from other nations, even at the height of the competition. Amongst these women was Brazil’s newest superstar, Rebeca Andrade, who had claimed gold and silver at the Tokyo Olympics. She proved to be formidable competition to Simone and ultimately edged her out to win the gold medal in the floor routine.
In times when strong women are often unnecessarily pitted against each other, these women proved that competition between each other can be intense and passionate, but it can also be amicable and respectful. Despite the women of Team USA not speaking any Portuguese, nor Rebeca being able to speak any English, these girls continued to show love to each other, from the end of their respective routines, right up to the podium where Simone and then Bronze-medallist Jordan Chiles bowed as Rebeca took her spot atop the first ever all-Black female podium.
The importance of support and community was perhaps best emphasised by the new Olympic javelin champion, Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem. Coming from a country that predominantly pours its sporting finances into cricket, Nadeem faced a lack of resources and facilities when practising javelin. He would workout in his homemade gym, lifting oil-filled canisters for strength training and hurling eucalyptus branches with iron tips to practise his throws. At the early stages of his career, his village would even pool their resources together to help send him to competitions. However, he was yet to receive much government backing and despite winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022, and becoming World Champion in 2023, Nadeem had to crowdfund to source a new javelin for the Paris Olympics after his old one had become so worn out.
In a feat never achieved before by a Pakistani athlete in an individual event, let alone track and field, Nadeem rocketed his javelin to an Olympic record breaking 92.97m. Though labelled the underdog, Nadeem took the gold medal home to Pakistan and became only the fourth ever athlete to breach the 90m in the javelin final. An achievement he accomplished not once, but twice in the final. It truly does take a village to raise a champion.
5. African Giants
Reserved and mistakenly underestimated, Letsile Tebogo has had a stunning athletic season, and was rewarded for it with a golden and silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. Having lost his mum to a short illness earlier in May of this year, Tebogo described the loss like, “the end of everything.” Training in his home, Botswana, soon became unbearable for the young man, so he, his team and coaches, left for Europe in the hopes it would motivate Tebogo back into training. The strategy worked to historic effect and in a win that shocked international commentators, Tebogo stormed to a National Record of 19.46s to win the 200m and Botswana’s first ever Olympic medal. On the closing night of track and field, he anchored his team to a silver medal in the 4x400m.
Tebogo continued to fly on the track post-Paris, with a stunning win in the 100m Rome Diamond League, and another win in the 200m Lausanne Diamond League. When he returned home, he was welcomed by over 80,000 people who had gathered in a packed stadium to congratulate their prized athlete. As a part-time farmer, he was also gifted over 30 animals by the Government and two houses. As the season progressed, we saw a Tebogo that slowly emerged from his shell to show off a glittering personality. Tebogo conquered every race with the mindset of a winner and this is why he will continue to soar after some much needed, end of season rest.
From one underdog to another, queue the Nigerian Super Eagles. In one of the biggest surprises of the Games, Nigeria surpassed all their competition to become the first African team to win an Olympic gold medal in football.
Their 1996 Atlanta Games campaign kicked off with a 1-0 win over Hungary, a score they then doubled in a decisive 2-0 victory over Japan, until they were defeated 1-0 with a strike by Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Despite the setback, Nigerian exited the group stages as runners-up ahead of the Japanese on goal difference. Into the final 8, they cleared past Mexico with a comfortable 2-0 win, and then it was time to exact some revenge against Brazil in the semi-finals.
After going down 1-0, an own goal by Brazil led to an equaliser for the Super Eagles. Though, it wouldn’t take long for Brazil to regain their lead, and as the teams headed towards the closing minutes of the games, Nigeria trailed the favourites by 3 goals to 1. But this is sport, and nothing is over until the final whistle blows. With just 12 minutes left on the clock, Nigeria was handed a lifeline by Victor Ikpeba, who managed to find the bottom corner of the net. 3-2. In true never say die spirit, magician Nwankwo Kanu scored in the second minute of additional time. 3-3. Extra time. It took Nigeria only 4 minutes to score they’re fourth winning goal and beat Brazil 4-3. Nigeria headed to the finals and completed the underdog story after coming from behind yet again to beat Argentina 3-2. In the world of sport, sometimes being the ‘favourite’ counts for nothing. Anything is possible.
6. A Shot On History
Since the women’s archery team event was added to the Olympics in 1988, South Korea’s women have not failed to take home the gold medal. Despite finding a formidable opponent in the Republic of China, who pushed the South Korean team to a thrilling three arrow shoot-off for the gold medal, it was the South Korean women who proved their dominance once more as they won 29-27, 5-4 games in total.
This takes the South Korean women’s team to 10 consecutive wins in the sport. This phenomenal sporting feat is equalled only by the US men’s 400m medley relay swimming team, who’s winning reign spanned from the 1984 LA Games to 2020 Tokyo Games.
The three women that are selected to represent South Korea in the women’s team archery are the best in their country, and for the past 36 years, this selection equates to being the best in the World.
7. The Golden Couples
With Tara’s personality sparkling both on and off the track, and Hunter’s unwavering support for his wife, the supportive Olympic and Paralympic couple quickly became the coolest (and hottest) couple of the Games.
As the only woman on the day to break the 7.0m barrier, Tara sailed over her competition to 7.10m to claim the Olympic title and gold medal. A few short weeks later and it was Hunter who ran into his partner’s arms as he crossed the line first, winning his first major competition, and becoming the 400m T62 Paralympic champion.
And in another display of Paralympic greatness, we have Cuban athlete Omara Durand. Competing in the 100m, 200m and 400m, Durand has set the World Record in each of her events. After the birth of her daughter in 2013, Durand’s eyesight began to deteriorate so she started running with guide, Yunior Kindelán. Together, this duo has stood atop the Paralympic podium an incredible nine times.
With a career that started at just 19 years old, one of the greatest Paralympic sprinters in history has now called time on the track. What could be a more fitting way to sign off than winning three golden Paralympic medals for the third consecutive Games and remaining the undefeated 11-time Paralympic Champion.
8. A First For Everything
In a first for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, medals were won by The Refugee Team. Cindy Ngamba, originally from Cameroon, left her home country for the UK as she could face jail in Cameroon for her queer identity. Competing in the women’s middleweight boxing event, Ngamba earned the Refugee Olympic Team a bronze medal, the first for the Team since it began competing in 2016.
Following up this success was Zakia Khudadai, who competes in the K44-47kg category of Taekwondo. With her third-place win, Zakia’s bronze medal was also the first ever medal won for the Refugee Paralympic Team. Having been exfiltrated from Taliban-controlled Kabul, Zakia was granted asylum by France and the home crowd proudly roared her on like one of their own throughout her matches.
With her refugee status, and not yet being a British citizen, Ngamba’s pride may not be hers to share with any one country, but rather with humankind. Speaking after her historic win she said, “I’m just a human, just like any other refugee and athlete around the world.” Echoing her words, Zukia shared how her win was a chance to inspire and “show women and girls that they are more than they’re made [to] feel by the Taliban. To show that the women of Afghanistan are strong and achieve great things.” All it takes is one person to inspire a nation of change.
*Jamaica was disqualified after Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance, but fear not, Jamaica broke the World Record again in London 2012 in a blistering 36.84s.
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