The Paris Olympics have us glued to the screen, cheering on our favourite athletes and experiencing the best of sports from all around the world. With many events still yet to come, here's a quick recap of all the exciting (and heartwarming) moments from the City of Lights so far.
There's Only Room For Love And Respect
With a stellar routine demonstrating an expertise that can only be mastered with practice and perseverance, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade saw victory in golden colours after her performance on floor. This win made Andrade the most-decorated Brazilian gymnast of all time. But what has captured the world's attention even more is the camaraderie between the athletes, as silver medal winner Simone Biles and bronze medal winner Jordan Chiles bowed down to Andrade in a playful and respectful fashion as she stepped onto the podium to receive her medal. If this is not peak womanhood, we don't know what is.
Qinwen Zheng Takes Home The First-Ever Olympic Gold In Tennis For China
Winning China's first-ever gold medal in the sport, Qinwen Zheng made history after her win against Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the women’s singles tennis final. Emotions were high as the stands dotted with crimson flags erupted in celebration after the match. Zheng had defeated Polish opponent Iga Świątek to make her way into the finals and secured her medal after a 6-2, 6-3 win against Vekic. Following the match, the athlete took to Instagram, commenting on how she is taking the "most wanted souvenir from Paris" home.
Style And Strategy Go Side By Side With South Korea's Ye-ji Kim
Dressed in a Fila jacket and baseball cap, air pistol shooter Ye-ji Kim garnered attention for her nonchalant style at the competition. The athlete, who won the silver medal in the 10-metre air pistol final, was dressed in a black Fila jacket, Team South Korea cap, technical glasses and a stuffed elephant toy (courtesy of her daughter) hanging from her waistband, embodying all things fashionable at the shooting event. With a penchant for style and shooting prowess, the athlete has not only earned herself a medal but the title of the "coolest" shooter at the Olympics this year.
There's Three On The Podium
It was not until the end of her event that Nada Hafez revealed to the world that she had competed while 7 months pregnant. The Egyptian fencer took to Instagram to break the news, explaining that "What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three!". Hafez participated in the women's individual sabre competition, beating USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky in first round before losing to Jeon Hayoung of the Republic of Korea. It was a moment of pride for women across the globe as Hafez proved nothing is beyond her reach - or the reach of any woman - by competing in a gruelling sport during such a delicate period of life.
First Emirati Cyclist At The Olympics
It was an Olympics of many firsts for the region and adding to the long list was Safiya Al Sayegh, the first Emirati cyclist to compete at the Olympics. Safiya participated in the women's cycling road race which took place on the streets of Paris along with Algerian cyclist, Nesrine Houili, another talent from the region. Even though Safiya was not able to secure a medal this time, she has broken the glass ceiling for aspirants of the sport across the Middle East.
Gold And Diamond For Chinese Badminton Player Huang Yaqiong
While dreams of gold medals came true for the Chinese badminton team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, what came as a surprise for player Huang Yaqiong is the diamond ring that now sits on her finger. Yaqiong, shortly after winning the mixed doubles final with her partner Zheng Siwei, was proposed to by her romantic partner, Liu Yuchen, who is also member of the Chinese badminton team. The moment was special in more ways than one with Yaqiong winning the best of both worlds in the city of love.
First Individual From The MENA Region To Compete In Olympic Eventing
An unexpected injury dealt a severe blow to the Olympic aspirations of Moroccan equestrian Noor Slaoui, forcing a relentless fight to recover in time. With a back and clavicle surgery, along with plenty of rest and motivation, the athlete recovered swiftly in time for the competitions. While she was unable to secure a medal at her sport, she marked her name in history by becoming the first individual from the Middle East and North African region to compete in Olympic eventing.
Africa's First Gold Medal In Gymnastics
17-year old athlete Kaylia Nemour became the first gymnast to win a gold medal for an African country at the Olympics. The Algerian-French teenager bested opponents Qiu Qiyuan of China and Sunisa Lee of USA at the uneven bars final while embracing her father's nationality after a dispute with the French gymnastics federation.
