Recapping a Special Olympic Games in Paris

The sixteen days of competition are over. The Olympics have come to an end. Sunday’s closing ceremony ended an incredible fortnight of non-stop sporting action and drama. 32 sports, 10,500 athletes, and 200 countries represented. It celebrates athleticism and a culmination of years of hard work.

But not everyone wins a medal. Only a select few do, which means there is plenty of heartbreak along the way. Finishing fourth is pretty much the same as finishing last. But being able to compete at an Olympic Games holds a special resonance in itself that should be commended for a lifetime.

The Paris Olympics were not without its drama. The opening ceremony did not get the game off to a great start, with torrential rain forcing everyone under umbrellas and into ponchos. The rain continued on the first proper day, with crashes the centrepiece of the Women’s time trial. But from then on, it was blistering heat in Paris; the events began to click into gear.

Team GB ended the games by beating their Tokyo medal haul by one—65 medals in total, thanks to Emily Campbell, who achieved GB’s last medal in Weightlifting with a bronze. However, Great Britain ended up seventh in the medal table due to a late flurry of golds from the Dutch in the final couple of days. Despite beating their Tokyo medal accumulation, there were only 14 golds compared to 29 bronzes.

That paints the picture, but it does not tell the whole story. At times, GB seemed to have a distinct aura of lousy fortune. They were missing out on gold by millimetres and milliseconds, coming fourth or fifth from a photo finish. It could have been even better, but that is the cruel nature of sport. If it were calculated based on total medals, Team GB would have finished third, behind the juggernauts in China and the USA. Those two tied with 40 gold medals apiece, but the USA dominated most of the sports and ended the Games with 126 medals to their name.

Hosts France had a strong Olympics, buoyed by their raucous home support throughout. Judo aficionado Teddy Riner and swimmer Leon Marchand were their standout performers and new national sensations. Their amazing display of skill and talent sent the French into a frenzy, enhancing the overall atmosphere in and around Paris.

The Olympics is a time when all countries come together. External politics and hostilities are placed on hold, and competitive sport is cherished and spotlighted. People travel worldwide to the host city to see their respective nations compete for eternal glory.

But Paris, a city that remains rich in history and glamour, was an adequate location for these Olympic Games. It showed off its culture, cuisine, and style, as well as providing the subsequent infrastructure and organisation that necessitates the hosting of an Olympics. It is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, if not the biggest, and years and years of preparation go into planning for when the time comes. But Pairs held its own and can be regarded as a successful host for the 2024 Olympics.

We had new stars on the scene. Bryony Page won our first Olympic golf in trampolining. Isabelle Thorpe and Kate Shortman won silver in artistic swimming, another first for Team GB at the Olympics. But we also had the veterans, who were still going strong with years of experience. In his third Olympic Games, Adam Peaty won silver in the 100m breaststroke. The 29-year-old has hinted at retirement, but don’t rule him out of LA in 2028.

Great Britain’s diving legend Tom Daley announced his retirement on Sunday after the closing ceremony. Daley added a silver medal to the synchronised 10m platform at his fifth Olympics to his impressive tally. Alex Yee won an astonishing gf in the men’s triathlon before a bronze in the mixed relay a few days later, capping off a wonderful Olympics, resulting in him being the flagbearer for GB alongside Bryony Pgae during the closing ceremony.

It is impossible to name and commend every athlete for Team GB. Each played their part. Some were elated, some were heartbroken. But most will be back, and the presence of youth in several sports offers a bright future for Great Britain in years to come. Four years is a long time, but being an Olympic athlete takes an incomprehensible amount of dedication and hard work in your craft to achieve your goal.

After a fortnight of non-stop sporting action, it feels like there is a hole in your day-to-day life when the Olympics finish. It captured the nation and sparked debate about what sports the public thought they could train and participate in. But the unwavering reality is that the answer is none of them. These are special athletes of a different kind, and to liken ourselves to them tarnishes their greatness. We are lucky to witness them at their peaks, so enjoy it while you can. Bring on the next one in Los Angeles in 2028. Who knows what the world will look like then, but the Olympics is a special sporting celebration that should not be overshadowed by anything.