The curtain has fallen on the spectacular 2024 Paris Olympics, and while there were plenty of iconic sporting victories and losses, the Paris Games also delivered some of the best viral moments, spawning countless memes and videos.
From start to finish the Paris Olympics were stunning to watch, albeit at times controversial.
Here we list some of the most memorable moments which resulted in either delight or derision.
The Opening Ceremony
The avant garde Opening Ceremony drew the ire of many conservative groups and Christians, after they felt a scene, depicting the Greek god Dionysus, was mocking Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper,” which depicts Jesus and his 12 apostles during his final meal.
Paris Olympics organizers eventually issued an apology for causing offence, after a storm of criticism.
Celine Dion’s spectacular return
The iconic Canadian singer had millions of fans around the world in tears when she delivered a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s Hymne A L’Amour on top of the Eiffel Tower towards the end of the Opening Ceremony.
Dion had been out of the limelight for some time after being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, so this return was emotional for many, especially as she had taken all her fans with her on her journey with the debilitating disease.
Türkiye’s answer to John Wick – Yusuf Dikec
Yusuf Dikec became an onvernight internet sensation due to his casual stance, yet with intensity behind his eyes, during the 10m air pistol mixed team event, that led him to a silver medal with his team mate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan.
It led to online commentators joking that he might actually be a secret agent, an assassin, or both, and that he purposefully didn’t go for gold otherwise his cover might be blown.
There were also rumours that he had only recently taken up shooting after a particularly difficult divorce, but this was only satire.
In reality, Dikec has been competing at the Olympics since 2008, and says he is just a natural shooter, who does not need any equipment.
The Dikec stance, as it became known, turned into a popular celebration among other athletes, especially in the athletics competition at the Stade de France.
The surfer who briefly levitated
A French photographer’s stunning photo of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina, seemingly suspended mid-air over the ocean, has been labelled the best photo of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The now iconic snap from AFP photographer Jerome Brouillet shows Medina celebrating his near perfect wave in Tahiti.
Gender controversy at the Olympics
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was thrust in the spotlight after Italian boxer Angela Carini dramatically pulled out of their fight mid-way through.
Support for Carini swiftly poured in and unverified information started swirling around about Khelif’s gender after she had reportedly failed a gender eligibility test at the World Championships.
Pitted against each other in this case is International Boxing Association (IBA), who denied Khelif entry to the world champs, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who has repeatedly defended Khelif’s participation at the Olympics.
The IBA was stripped of its recognition as the global body for the sport by the IOC in 2023.
Khelif went on to win gold in the women’s 66kg event, while the second boxer caught up in the gender eligibility row, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, won gold in the women’s 57kg event.
That Snoop Dog swagger
US rapper Snoop Dogg was appointed as a special Paris 2024 Olympics correspondent for NBC, and he went on to delight fans every day of the Games.
He popped up in the audience during numerous events, watching his compatriots on the track and field.
The whole internet loved the wholesome moment when he was video’d dancing for a horse at a dressage event.
The Aussie break dancer that broke the internet with her kangaroo hops
Australian break dancer, Rachael Gunn, broke the internet with her Kangaroo break-dancing moves, leaving the world both shocked and confused as to what they were watching.
Performing under her stage name ‘Raygun’, Gunn was ridiculed for her somewhat absurd set that consisted of kangaroo hops, dolphin kicks, and more “free-styles” that captured everyone’s attention, but sadly no points, ultimately scoring 0 points for Australia.
Gunn’s cringeworthy performance sparked somewhat of an international phenomenon, with various social media videos mocking her set.
Viewers also took to social media to share their belief on X:
“Nope, I am still not convinced this wasn’t a skit.”
Another commentator said:
”This is like when your 5yr old comes downstairs to interrupt movie night to show you their new dance and you pretend that it’s awesome.”
Then, Olympic French Pole Vaulter Anthony Ammirati went viral after it seemed his ”package” prevented him from qualifying for the finals…It turns out Ammirati failed the jump before his crotch hit the bar.
Ammirati has been a good sport about it, even posting a TikTok, pondering how he has created more buzz for his package than his performances, before adding in the caption ”I don’t really know if I should take it well or not.”
Finally, in a symbolic handover to the next host City, Los Angeles, a bevvy of American superstars teamed up to put on a show during the closing ceremony.
Of course Tom Cruise had to come and do Tom Cruise things, dropping in from the roof of the Stade de France!
