The 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics may be over, but at Credico, we are still celebrating. Since the opening ceremony in Paris, France, on July 26, the world came together to witness a month of athleticism, inclusion, and sportsmanship. This year’s theme, “Games Wide Open,” represented the International Olympic Committee’s intention to deliver “a more responsible, inclusive, equal, and spectacular game,” and they did just that.
The official mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic games were the Phryges, “based on an ideal rather than an animal,” according to Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee. The family of Phryges is based on Phrygian caps, a French symbol of liberty. The two “main” Phryges representing the Olympic and Paralympic Games were given their own distinct personalities, zipping through arenas and venues all around Paris and into our hearts.
The Paris Summer Olympic Games set new sustainability, gender equality, and performance standards for future games. This year drew huge audiences to support the 10,500 athletes representing 206 nations. More than 9.5 million of the 10 million tickets available were sold. The average TV audience in the United States alone totaled 31.3 million across the entire competition. This year’s games were highly watched – that’s an 82% increase in American viewership alone from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This increase was well-deserved, as the games were indeed spectacular. According to Olympics.com, 125 Olympic records were broken in 10 sports or disciplines, and an impressive 32 world records were broken in eight. And that’s only the beginning.
The 17th Summer Paralympic Games took place from August 28th to September 8th, showcasing 12 days of incredible talent, resilience, and ability. This international multisport parasports event, also known as the Games of the Paralympics, saw 170 nations represented, including the Neutral Paralympic Athletes and the Refugee Paralympic Team. A total of 4,463 athletes with a range of disabilities participated in 549 events across 22 sports, breaking over 40 world records and demonstrating the incredible diversity and talent of the Paralympic community.
While this year’s Olympic competitions have ended, here are some of the standout athletes who achieved great success as our teams cheered them on from our offices in four countries.
Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Ranked at 11th in overall medals won, this year was Canada’s second-largest medal haul in both gold medal count and total medals at a single Olympic Summer Games – Team Canada brought home 27 medals, including nine gold.
Seventeen-year-old swimmer Summer McIntosh from Toronto won four medals, including three gold in the women’s 200m fly, 400m medley, and 200m medley, and a silver in the 400m freestyle. She also set two Olympic records in two events, earning the well-deserved declaration of the “Summer of Summer.”
This year marked a historic win for Canada and Ethan Katzberg, who, during his Olympic debut, made history by winning the country its first hammer throw medal in 112 years. The 22-year-old Katzberg also served as flag bearer alongside Summer McIntosh for the Closing Ceremony. Canadian athletes Andre De Grasse and Maude Charron held this same honor during the Opening Ceremony.
In the Paralympic Games, Team Canada brought home 29 medals: ten gold, nine silver, and ten bronze, making the podium seven times in seven sports. This is the most gold medals Team Canada has won in 16 years! Thirty-one athletes returned home with medals from Paris, including 22 who won their first-ever Paralympic medals and ten who were first-time competitors.
Aurélie Rivard, Canadian Paralympic swimmer, struck gold again by winning the women’s S10 400-metre freestyle for the third consecutive Paralympic Games; the 28-year-old is the world record holder for the event. Rivard and fellow para swimmer Nicholas Bennett brought home the most medals for Team Canada, each winning three.
Sitting volleyball Paralympian Felicia Voss-Shafiq also won her first medal at 44 and four months old, becoming Canada’s oldest medalist after losing her legs due to septic shock from battling pneumonia.
South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Team South Africa had nearly 150 athletes competing. They took the podium six times during the country’s 21st appearance at the Olympic Games.
Tatana Smith announced her retirement from swimming, but only after winning two medals, including one gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke. The 27-year-old Olympic champion was one of the flag-bearers for the country during the closing ceremony, a proper end to an impressive career.
Ronald Brown, a cancer survivor and member of the Men’s Rugby Sevens, didn’t compete during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but helped the team bring home a bronze medal this year after placing fifth in 2021.
In the nail-biting, high-energy 4x100m men’s final race among Canada, South Africa, and Great Britain, Canada emerged as the winner. However, South African 100m national record holder Akani Simbine finally secured his long-awaited Olympic medal at the age of 30. He won a silver and earned a place on the podium alongside Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi, and Bradley Nkoana.
Six is the lucky number for South Africa, as the country’s Paralympians brought home two gold and four bronze medals. Mpumelelo Mhlongo set two world records in the T44 200m sprint and T44 long jump. South Africa also achieved four Paralympic records, including Puseletso Mabote’s 12.05s record in the T63 100m and Simone Kruger’s 38.70m record in the women’s discus F38.
Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi secured South Africa’s first wheelchair tennis medals by winning bronze in the quad doubles, and cyclist Nicolas Pieter du Preez won a bronze medal in the Para Men’s H1 Individual Time Trial.
United Kingdom at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Team Great Britain, also known as Team GB, left Paris with 65 medals, one more than they had brought home from Tokyo, but a whopping 14 gold medals, ranking 7th in the countries with the most wins this year.
From the team’s oldest winner, 57-year-old horseman Carl Hestor and his horse Fame, to 16-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown, Team GB was inclusive, equitable, and inspiring. According to TeamGB.com, nine mothers competed and brought home eight medals.
Emily Campbell made history by winning her second consecutive Olympic medal. The 30-year-old weightlifter scored a bronze and secured her legendary status in the world of weightlifting. The women’s track cycling team set a world record for the third time in a day, outperforming New Zealand and bringing home the gold for Great Britain. Five-time Olympic medalist Tom Daley, who started his Olympic career at 14 at the 2008 Beijing Games, announced his retirement from diving at 30.
And at the Paralympics, Great Britain placed 2nd in overall medals, winning a whopping 124. With an impressive 49 gold, 44 silver, and 31 bronze medals, there were so many incredible moments it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s just say it was a night of historic wins.
Dan Pembroke secured his spot as the world record holder for the men’s F13 javelin. The visually impaired Paralympian broke his previous world record and secured it with a new record at 74.49m. Jodie Grinham made paralympic history by winning bronze in archery while seven months pregnant. Amy Truesdale and Matt Bush, both 35, also made history with their gold wins in the team’s first Taekwondo victories. Sabrina Fortune has set a new world record in the F20 Shot Put by breaking her own record and earning a gold medal. It’s often said that fortune favors the brave, and Sabrina has certainly proven this to be true.
United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Team USA had an outstanding performance this year, securing a total of 126 medals, including 40 gold, during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The team also set six world records, showcasing their remarkable achievements on the global stage.
Of course, no Olympic discussion could possibly fail to mention Simone Biles, who solidified her status as the greatest of all time by clinching gold in the women’s vault. The women’s foil fencing team made history by winning the first-ever team fencing gold medal in U.S. history. The women’s basketball team continued their winning streak by securing their eighth straight Olympic gold medal. At the same time, the men’s basketball team also left Paris with a gold after an impressive performance, culminating in a game-winning shot by Steph Curry. Furthermore, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s remarkable performance in the 400m hurdles final made history once again by breaking her own record for the fifth consecutive time.
At the Paralympics, Team USA defeated Team GB in a heated battle in the men’s wheelchair basketball, securing the gold and landing 3rd in overall medals won for a total of 105, including 36 gold. In 20 sports, 55 Paralympic athletes from the USA won 16 podium spots, earning most of its medals in the Para track and field games with 38 total. Fifty-five athletes brought home their first medals, and 29 brought home more than one medal.
Track and field athlete Tatyana McFadden scored her 21st medal, becoming the most decorated U.S. athlete in this sport. Liana Mutia, who claims she’s “…not an athlete,” proved she’s not just an athlete but one of the best as she secured the No. 1 spot in the women’s -57kg J1 Para Judo. First-time Paralympic swimmers won big. Ali Truwit scored two silver medals after losing part of her leg in a shark attack and Christie Raleigh Crossley won a whopping five medals and even set a 50-meter freestyle world record. Four-time armless archer Matt Stutzman made history and stunned audiences by winning gold in the men’s individual compound open, achieving legendary status.
From Snoop Dogg becoming the unofficial Olympic ambassador to Beacon, the USA Gymnastics teams’ therapy dog, who made our hearts flip like a Biles’ triple-double, the Olympics is a special event because it connects us all to each other and the world. The Paris 2024 games serve as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and embracing everyone, regardless of their abilities or differences.
While we miss watching as the greatest athletes on the world’s stage remind us of the greatness in all of us, we are incredibly proud of all the athletes who represented our countries. To every athlete who participated, regardless of the outcome, you are a champion in our eyes. Simply reaching the Olympics is worth its weight in gold.
We look forward to gathering with our friends, family, and fellow Olympic Games enthusiasts for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles, California, from July 14-30, and the Paralympics from August 15-27.