Top Female Athletes of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paris 2024 showcased historic moments for women in sports, highlighting their athletic achievements and mutual support. These female athletes demonstrated unity and empowerment, setting a powerful example on the world stage.
By Ava McGinty
Paris, the City of Trailblazers.
Women competing (and dominating) on the Olympic world stage may not have been possible if there weren’t trailblazing women in 1900, a year which marked the first time Paris hosted and the first time women competed in the Olympic games. That year, 22 women participated in equestrianism, golf, crocket, tennis, and sailing. Swiss-American athlete Hélène de Pourtalès represented Switzerland and was the first woman to become an Olympic champion by competing in a sailing event. Charlotte Cooper, who represented Great Britain was the first female athlete to individually win a gold medal by competing in tennis. Since then, women competing in sports has grown exponentially with Paris 2024 being the most gender equal olympics yet with about half of all competitors being women.
Source: olympics.com
Bowing Down to Empower?
On August 5th, a true act of sportsmanship was displayed during the Women Gymnastics Floor final when Brazilian gymnast, Rebeca Andrade took gold and Simone Biles claimed the silver medal. Andrade is the first person to beat Biles in a floor final in a major international competition. On the Olympic podium, Biles and Jordan Chiles (bronze) bowed down to Andrade who held up her arms in victory. Biles had a smile stretching from ear to ear, showing no hard feelings, instead opting to support her fellow gymnast. Many took to social media to express the heartwarming nature of the gesture, especially how these women showed up for one another, supporting each other’s victories.
Source: cnn.com
Pulling Each Other Up.
Katie Ledecky made Olympic history by becoming the most decorated woman with a total of 14 medals, 4 of which she won in Paris 2024. Ledecky held off Ariarne Titmus in the 800m freestyle to make it Ledecky’s 4th consecutive win in the event. After the race ended, Ledecky swam over to Titmus and grabbed her hand to extend it in the air, and held it up in celebration, and the pair hugged afterwards. On the Olympic podium, Ledecky pulled teammate Paige Madden up to the top spot with her. Madden had just won the bronze medal, the first individual medal of her Olympic career. Ledecky wrapped her arm around Madden as the American National Anthem played. Leave it to Ledecky to share the spotlight marked by classy gestures.
Sources: independent.co.uk, si.com
Small Country, Big Victory.
Julien Alfred of St. Lucia won Gold in the women’s 100m, marking St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal. St. Lucia began to compete in the Olympics in 1996 and since then, 40 athletes total have represented the country. Alfred finished the race in 10.72 seconds, .15 seconds ahead of second place finisher, Sha’Carri Richardson. Upon realizing she won gold, Alfred wrapped herself in the St. Lucian Flag and began sobbing, shortly thereafter Richardson and Melissa Jefferson (bronze) held her in an embrace. Alfred is the 14th woman to represent St. Lucia and is the only one to appear on the Olympic podium. Videos of watch parties in St. Lucia showcased animated crowds, celebrating Alfred’s victory as the fastest woman in the Caribbean.
Coming Full Circle: The Legacy of Women in Sports.
Paris 2024 has been filled with inspiring moments for women’s sports on the world stage. Not only through success measured in medals, but through respect for others’ victories. While the Olympics could prompt division, separated by countries trying to be the best, in actuality it has promoted unity among athletes based on common identity. This was evident in Paris through acts of good sportsmanship among women. It is fitting to see the amount of support within women’s athletics during these Olympic games, as the roots were initially planted in Paris 1900. 22 women paved the way for the success seen in the Olympic games by women in sports today.
Source: olympics.com
“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on. Make sure you’re very courageous: Be strong, be extremely kind and above all, be humble.”
– Serena Williams
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