Sifan Hassan’s journey at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games reached a dramatic conclusion on Sunday, as the Dutch runner claimed gold in the women’s marathon, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2:22:55. It was a race that tested every ounce of her strength and determination, culminating in a thrilling sprint finish that saw her outlast Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa by just three seconds.
In the final curve of the women's 400m hurdles, Femke Bol found herself in a promising position—trailing closely behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, just as her coach, Laurent Meuwly, had advised. "The objective for Femke is to stay as near as possible into the straight," Meuwly had instructed, and Bol was a mere two-tenths of a second behind. However, this would be the last time she was in the ideal spot for the rest of the night. McLaughlin-Levrone, the premier women’s hurdler in history, surged forward with unmatched strength and speed down the straight, securing her second Olympic gold and affirming her legacy as the finest track athlete of her time.
Noah Lyles, who just days ago claimed the title of the world’s fastest man at the Stade de France, faced a stark contrast in fortune on Thursday night. After testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Lyles nevertheless took to the track for the 200m Olympic final, where he courageously earned a bronze medal. The strain, however, was evident as he collapsed after crossing the finish line, overwhelmed by sheer exhaustion rather than disappointment.
Pole vault star Nina Kennedy claimed Australia’s 18th gold medal at the Paris Olympics, achieving the nation’s most successful medal haul in the history of the Games. Kennedy, 27, executed a flawless jump, clearing 4.90 meters with exceptional skill and poise. Unbeknownst to her at the moment, this leap secured her the gold medal.
American athlete Quincy Hall secured a thrilling victory in the men's 400-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, marking a significant comeback for the U.S. in an event they once dominated. The race, held at the Stade de France, showcased Hall's tenacity and determination.
American runner Cole Hocker shocked everyone by winning the 1500m gold medal and setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3:27.65 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Expected to be a contest between Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the reigning champion, and Britain's Josh Kerr, the race took an unexpected turn when Hocker won handily.
Josh Kerr remarked that the pre-race buzz surrounding his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen did not affect the unexpected outcome of an extraordinary 1500m final, where he secured the silver medal.
Keely Hodgkinson ended her three-year skid of silver medals at the Stade de France by winning the gold medal in the 800 meters with an incredible show of resilience and perseverance. The 22-year-old from Atherton watched the enormous screen closely as she approached the gold medal to make sure that no unforeseen events could ruin her chances of winning. But she was unstoppable this time.
The women's 5,000m final ended dramatically, with Faith Kipyegon, who initially finished second, disqualified for an altercation with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. This decision was later reversed, reinstating Kipyegon's silver medal after an appeal.
Femke Bol's incredible anchor leg helped the Netherlands win the mixed 4x400m relay in a dramatic fashion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, defeating a strong United States team that had just broken a world record the previous evening. The race was a rain-soaked matchup.
