The Paris 2024 Olympics saw 10,500 athletes come together for an incredible talent showcase. But as the games wrapped up, it wasn’t just the performances that stuck with the spectators — it was the stories behind them. Athletes might seem superhumans to the fans, but they’re just as human as the rest of us. There were quite a few emotional moments in the capital, both heart-warming and heart-breaking.
China’s Zhou Yaqin won the artistic gymnastics silver medal in the women’s balance beam event on her Olympic debut. She had Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito alongside her on the podium. In an unfeigned moment captured in a video, Yaquin can be seen looking at her Italian podium-mates biting their medals and then trying to replicate the act. The teenager won the internet through this innocent act.
China’s Huang Ya Qiong secured a gold medal in the badminton mixed team event with her partner Zheng Siwei. However, her real-life partner had other plans to make the night even more memorable. Ace Chinese shuttler Liu Yu Chen got down on his knee and proposed to Huang after her victory in front of the adoring crowd. “I said yes. Thanks for making my day,” she posted this special moment on her Instagram handle.
Competing in her home country, France’s Alice Finot had decided before the Olympics that if she ran under nine minutes in the 3000-meter steeplechase, she would ask her partner’s hand. She ranked fourth, unable to attain the podium finish but she managed to complete the personal goal. Finishing in 8:58.67, she ran towards the bleachers and proposed to her partner who was seated in the audience.
Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova showed everyone her determination by participating in the 1/32 elimination round against China’s An Qixuan while being six months pregnant. After a tight round, there was a 5-5 tie between the two archers. Each of the two engaged in a single-arrow shoot-off to determine the winner. She scored a perfect 10 in that shoot-off. Later on, she revealed, “Felt baby kick before the final arrow, scored a ten.”
He Bingjiao secured a silver medal in the badminton women’s singles event. Having the prize wrapped around her neck, she was seen showcasing Spain’s flag pin. One might wonder why she did that when she originates from China. The reasoning comes from her semifinal against Spain’s Carolina Marin. The Spanish shuttler was leading that game 21-14, 10-6 and was on the verge of qualifying for the final until she had to withdraw due to an ACL injury. That withdrawal meant He would reach the finals. This gesture of hers at the podium ceremony surely won the internet.
Katarina Siniakova and Tomas Machac, the Czech gold-medallist duo in tennis mixed doubles took the internet by storm after their win. The game-partners had announced their relationship split before the tournament began but decided to continue playing in the tournament. After a three-set win over Zhinzhen Zhang and Winyu Wang, the couple hugged it out and shared a kiss. After the win, the athletes laughed it off when asked about their relationship status and said it was a ‘top secret.’
Giving life to Taylor Swift’s lyrics, ‘Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me.’ in the song ‘The Alchemy’, the Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis ran straight to his girlfriend after winning the gold medal. Duplantis, after breaking his world record for the ninth time, went on a rapid run across the field and onto the stands where she was seated. Truly, a heartwarming moment.
Podium selfies are not uncommon but they become unique when measured under various geopolitical factors. Photos of North and South Korean table tennis players posing for a selfie after winning medals piqued global interest. Despite previous efforts to unify in international sports, tensions have recently resurfaced between the two nations, which have remained technically at war since 1953. However, there was also a controversy when organizers mistakenly introduced South Korean athletes as North Korean, leading to an apology. The internet users could not help but say that ‘sport truly unites people’ despite the geo-political differences.
