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2024 Paris Olympic Games

2024 Paris Olympics recap: Looking back at a memorable Summer Games

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, including the final medal count and results after two weeks in France.

Olympic athletes watch as fireworks light up State de France during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Final medal count for the 2024 Paris Olympics

Bring it on! Los Angeles begins countdown to 2028 Olympics

Finally, dramatically, it has ended, the 2024 Paris Olympics finishing its last lap Sunday with incomparable enthusiasm, unbridled joy, and one last look at the gloriously intimidating tour Eiffel.

All of which means one thing.

We’ve got next.

Gulp.

How on earth can the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics surpass what the world just witnessed in a two-week burst of picturesque rejoicing from the Champ de Mars to the Palace of Versailles?

How can we match the overwhelming emotion from screaming fans and weeping athletes in a blockbuster Parisian party that was two weeks of pure Hollywood?

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LA28 touts ‘authentically Los Angeles’ Olympics as it takes handoff from Paris

PARIS — No other city in the world can do what Paris has done over the last three weeks, staging the drama of Olympic competition against the mise-en-scene of a glowing Eiffel Tower and the lush gardens of Versailles.

The 2024 Summer Games, with their classical trappings and sheer visual beauty, raised an important question.

How can Los Angeles possibly top this?

The organizers that will bring the Olympics to Southern California in 2028 offered a sneak peek during Sunday night’s closing ceremony at Stade de France. Instead of tradition, they leaned into production values and pop culture.

Like something out of “Mission: Impossible,” Tom Cruise rappelled from the rim of the stadium to the field below, then roared off on a motorcycle. Snoop Dogg dropped a few bars. Billie Eilish performed, albeit remotely, from Southern California beaches.

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The French definitely did it their way

After the Los Angeles medley, singer Yseult closed the Paris Olympics by belting out “My Way.”

The song has a mix of French and American roots.

Paul Anka, who lives in Los Angeles, wrote the lyrics and Frank Sinatra’s rendition became an international hit.

The music is set to the French song “Comme d’habitude” which was composed by Jacques Revaux. The lyrics have no similarity, but they remain very much linked.

Yseult offered a powerful rendition of the song to wrap up the Paris Olympics.

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Tom Cruise and Olympians eventually hand off to the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Tom Cruise repels from the top of State de France during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Tom Cruise took a motorcycle to a plane and packed the Olympic flag inside a backback before skydiving toward the Hollywood sign, going for “Mission: Impossible” energy.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “By the Way” began playing in the background as the sequence continued.

He then handed off to mountain biker Kate Courtney, who delivered the flag to track and field gold medalist Michael Johnson at the Coliseum. Johnson then gave the flag to two-time Olympic medalist skateboarder Jagger Eaton, who skated with the flag and eventually ran onto a beach.

He joined fans in front a stage on a California beach with the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing “Can’t Stop” near an LA28 logo.

Billie Eilish then took over to sing a medley of hits on the same beach.

Finally, the star of the Paris Olympics Snoop Dogg walked across the sand and began performing his hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot” He was then joined by his forever collaborator Dr. Dre.

Tom Cruise holds onto the Olympic flag as he talks with L.A. mayor Karen Bass and U.S. gymnast Simone Biles
Tom Cruise holds onto the Olympic flag as he talks with L.A. mayor Karen Bass and U.S. gymnast Simone Biles during the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Tom Cruise carries the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Hello, Tom Cruise

After playing the national anthem, H.E.R. strummed her guitar and actor Tom Cruise grinned while donning a leather jacket and descended from the roof of Stade de France.

He high fived athletes and took selfies on the way to the stage.

Cruise then took the flag from Simone Biles and jogged off stage to a motorcycle, with the flag mounted to the back. He rode through the crowd and out to the streets of Paris.

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L.A. officially accepts the Olympic flag

And now for the start of the big handoff to Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo waved the Olympic flag and handed it off to IOC president Thomas Bach. He then waved the flag before handing it over to L.A. mayor Karen Bass, who was accompanied on stage by star gymnast Simone Biles. Bass began waving the flag complete the official handover process.

H.E.R. then stood on stage to sing the U.S. national anthem.

President of Paris organizing committee says Games set record for most marriage proposals

Paris 2024 organizing committee president Tony Estanguet delivers a speech in front of IOC president Thomas Bach
Paris 2024 organizing committee president Tony Estanguet delivers a speech in front of IOC president Thomas Bach during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

After thanking a long list of elected officials and dignitaries, staff, volunteers and the entire country of France for a rousing effort to host joyous and successful Olympic Games, president of the Paris organizing committee Tony Estanguet said he never been so proud to be French. He also noted the Games set a record for most marriage proposals at an Olympics, drawing the biggest roar from the crowd.

IOC president Thomas Bach called for peace, congratulated France and saluted fans for coming together to help create the Olympic spirit at every venue. He also used his speech to seek culture of peace in a war-torn world. Bach tried to make a Seine River joke, but it didn’t land especially well.

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Phoenix delights with crowd with ‘1901’ performance

Phoenix performs during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

A series of French artists joined Phoenix for a mini-concert, with the lead singer from Vampire Weekend making a cameo.

Athletes and fans in the stands bopped along to Phoenix’s biggest hit “1901.”

French and American officials promised a few surprises during this ceremony.

Will immensely popular French electronic duo Daft Punk, which broke up in 2021, reunite for an appearance during the ceremony?

Phoenix performs during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Phoenix performs during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Phoenix performs during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Angele performs during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Athletes dance along to ‘Lisztomania’

Popular French band Phoenix played its hit “Lisztomania” and athletes rushed forward to the stage to dance along.

The athletes briefly climbed onto the stage and were asked to scoot back to the field so bands could perform.

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Photos: Striking views from the closing ceremony

Ace Times photograher Wally Skalij captured these striking pictures from a theatrical segment of the Paris Olympics closing ceremony that depicted a dystopian world without the Olympics. A golden traveler with an army of acrobats restored the Games by digging up and elevating the Olympic rings.

 An artist repels down from the stadium roof during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France
An artist repels down from the stadium roof during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Performers raise Olympic rings during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A pianist accompanies performers during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Performers raise rings during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Horse drawn carriage projected in LED lights

As the golden traveler carried the Greek flag, a nod to where the Olympics began, the outlines of a horse-drawn carriage trots around the stadium in LED lights. Later, the Olympic rings are displayed.

The traveler is joined by more dancers performing as they exhume the five Olympic rings to continue the theatrical presentation.

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Ceremony shifts from pop music to theatrical presentation

Stade de France has shifted from blasting pop songs to a theatrical venue.

The main stadium lights dimmed, with accent lights highlighting the start of a show,

Closing ceremony organizers say they intend to celebrate rebirth, humanity coming together and the Olympic spirit.

The ceremony is opening with a dystopian landscape without the Olympics and eventually a gold-clad voyager was lowered from the roof of Stade de France to restore the Olympic spirit.

Women’s marathon winners receive their medals

IOC president Thomas Bach presented medals to the women’s marathon winners, continuing a tradition of presenting the medals during the closing ceremony.

The difference this year is that it’s the women’s marathon being recognized rather than the men’s marathon.

Paris Olympic organizers chose to stage the men’s race Saturday and women’s race Sunday, flipping the traditional order to put women in the spotlight at the first Games to achieve gender equity in athlete participation.

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Athletes get into ‘We are the Champions’

NBC spoke of athlete karaoke and eventually the athletes in the venue joined in as the stadium DJ played the iconic Queen anthem “We are the Champions.”

Fans at Stade de France joined Olympians cheering.

M83 thumps as athletes continue to walk into Stade de France

M83 blared while athletes walked into Stade de France during the closing ceremony.

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Athletes parade under way

U.S. track and field star Allyson Felix is honored during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics
U.S. track and field star Allyson Felix is honored during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Unlike the opening ceremony, the athletes walk into the closing ceremony venue swiftly together rather than getting introduced one country at a time.

Between skipping calling out names and fewer athletes participating, the athletes’ parade takes a few minutes rather than hours during the opening ceremony.

Katie Ledecky carried the American flag and struggled to hear NBC questions during the parade, which further confirms David Wharton’s report of booming musice at Stade de France.

Stade de France ceremony opens with a striking national anthem

IOC President Thomas Bach waves while standing next to French president Emmanuel Macron
IOC President Thomas Bach waves while standing next to French president Emmanuel Macron during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony Sunday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

While the opening ceremony set the tone of a boisterous French party, the closing has opened with more regal and stately tones on television.

After a greeting between IOC president Thomas Bach and French president Emmanuel Macron, a sweeping symphony performed the French national anthem. It was a remarkable orchestration.

However, David Wharton reports the music is incredibly loud inside the venue and lacks some of the balance we’re getting via the TV production.

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Closing ceremony is under way

NBC advertised the closing ceremony would begin at 11 a.m. PDT or 11:15 a.m. PDT.

Actual start time: noon PDT.

The ceremony began with French star swimmer Leon Marchand, who was relatively unknown before winning four gold medals during the Paris Olympics, extinguishing the LED balloon that was supposed to represent the Olympic torch and carrying a small lantern with a real Olympic flame back toward Stade de France, site of the closing ceremony.

Imane Khelif and Katie Ledecky among flag bearers for closing ceremony

Alegerian boxer Imane Khelif makes a "V" gesture with both hands.
Alegerian boxer Imane Khelif celebrates after winning gold in the women’s 66-kilogram division at the Paris Games on Friday.
(Ariana Cubillos / Associated Press)

PARIS — Algerian boxing champion Imane Khelif will be among the flag bearers when Olympic athletes bid farewell to the Paris Games in a closing ceremony at France’s national stadium on Sunday night.

Khelif faced criticism and false claims about her sex, then won gold in the women’s 66 kg class.

Other gold medalists who will do the honors are U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky and French rugby star Antoine Dupont.

There’s an air of anticipation over what director Thomas Jolly has created to bring the Games to a close at Stade de France after the grandiose and unprecedented open-air opening ceremony on the Seine River.

Athletes entering on a parade on boats and the celebration of inclusivity generated headlines around the world.

The closing ceremony features the athletes’ parade and the handover of the Olympic flag to the organizers of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

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U.S. women’s basketball edges France for unprecedented 8th straight Olympic gold

U.S. basketball players celebrate.
The U.S. women’s basketball team celebrates after defeating France 67-66 for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

PARIS — It’s not easy making history.

The United States survived a scare from France to win an unprecedented eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal Sunday with a 67-66 victory at Bercy Arena. The Americans trailed by 10 in the third quarter, but rallied to set an Olympic record for a traditional team sport with their eighth straight title. The streak surpasses the seven straight Olympic championships won by the U.S. men’s basketball team.

The Americans are undefeated in Olympic play since 1992, winning 61 straight Olympic contests. The winning streak has outlived nine of the 12 players on the U.S. roster and survived just by a few inches as French star Gabby Williams hit a shot at the buzzer, but had her toe on the three-point line. She covered her mouth in disbelief as her would-be game-tying shot turned into a one-point loss.

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Man seen climbing Eiffel Tower, prompting an evacuation of the site

A police officer moves a person away from the Eiffel Tower.
Police evacuate the area around the Eiffel Tower after a man was seen climbing the landmark on Sunday.
(Aijaz Rahi / Associated Press)

PARIS — Authorities have evacuated the Eiffel Tower after a man was seen climbing the Paris landmark hours before the Olympics closing ceremony Sunday.

The shirtless man was seen scaling the 1,083-foot tower in the afternoon. It’s unclear where he began his ascent, but he was spotted just above the Olympic rings adorning the second section of the monument, just above the first viewing deck.

The closing ceremony was set to begin at Stade de France in the Saint-Denis area, well away from the Eiffel Tower, around 9 p.m.

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U.S. women’s volleyball takes home silver after being swept by Italy

U.S. players react during their loss to Italy in the women's volleyball gold-medal match at the Paris Games on Sunday.
(Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)

PARIS — Italy beat the defending champion U.S. team Sunday to win gold in women’s volleyball at the Paris Olympics.

The victory came in straight sets, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17. The Italians ended a dominant tournament having lost just one set.

It’s the first medal in the sport for top-ranked Italy and sends the Americans home in disappointment after they won their first Olympic title in Tokyo. It’s a huge win for the Italians, whose previous best Olympic finish was fifth.

The victory came in front of a boisterous crowd at South Paris Arena, where many fans waved Italian and U.S. flags. People danced and cheered as the Italians romped to the decisive win.

When Italy scored the match point to end it, many of the players collapsed to the court, then began hugging in a huge scrum. Together they tossed veteran Monica De Gennaro into the air. De Gennaro is a 37-year-old, four-time Olympian.

The U.S. was up 6-5 in the third set before Italy scored the next seven points to take a 12-6 lead. The Americans fought back, scoring three of the next four points.

The U.S. got within 19-16 before Italy closed it out with a 6-1 run capped by the match point by Paola Egonu, who had a dominant performance, scoring 22 points.

The silver finish by the Americans gives them a seventh Olympic medal to make them the winningest country in the sport.

U.S. men’s water polo defeats Hungary for first Olympic medal since 2008

U.S. players and coaches celebrate after their bronze-medal win over Hungary at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
(Luca Bruno / Associated Press)

NANTERRE, France — Adrian Weinberg made 16 saves in regulation and denied Vince Vigvári in the penalty shootout, helping the United States beat Hungary 11-8 on Sunday for the bronze medal in men’s water polo at the Paris Olympics.

It’s the first medal for the U.S. men since the team lost to Hungary in the final of the 2008 Olympics. The U.S. also won bronze the last time Paris hosted the Summer Games in 1924.

Ben Hallock had two goals for the U.S., which bounced back after losing to Serbia in the semifinals.

Gergo Zalanki and Denes Varga each had two goals for Hungary, the winningest men’s water polo program in history. Hungary took home the bronze at the Tokyo Games.

Hungary opened an 8-6 lead on Daniel Angyal’s goal with 3:22 left. But the U.S. rallied with man-up goals by Alex Bowen and Hannes Daube.

Daube, Max Irving and Bowen converted their opportunities in the penalty shootout, and Hungary was shut out in the tiebreaker. Varga hit the cage before Vigvári was turned away by Weinberg. When Gergo Zalanki hit the cage again, it was over.

As the U.S. coaches and players celebrated wildly — on the sideline and in the pool — Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” played on the sound system at Paris La Defense Arena. U.S. coach Dejan Udovicic waved his arms in the air to fire up the Americans fans in the crowd.

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Women experienced the best of the Olympics — and the worst — in Paris

Women compete in the 400-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARIS — After punching her way to a gold medal, winning bout after bout, the Algerian boxer felt like she had to keep fighting.

Throughout the 2024 Summer Olympics, Imane Khelif faced withering attacks on social media because she did not look stereotypically feminine. Internet trolls accused her of being transgender or a man in disguise.

“I am a woman like any other woman,” she said. “I was born a woman, I lived a woman and I competed as a woman.”

The controversy surrounding Khelif and another boxer from Taiwan underscored a striking contradiction at these Games. The last two weeks in Paris — a setting for the classic novel “A Tale of Two Cities” — have been the best of times and the worst of times for female athletes.

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L.A. reveals some of its Olympics closing ceremony performers

Snoop Dogg cheers at the Paris Olympics.
Rapper Snoop Dogg cheers for the U.S. during women’s gymnastics qualifying at the Paris Olympics on July 28.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Southern California musical all-stars Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg will be featured during the Olympic closing ceremony that will help introduce the world to Los Angeles, the Summer Games’ next host.

LA28, the group organizing the Los Angeles Olympics, confirmed the acts would be joined by H.E.R., who will perform the U.S. national anthem live at Paris’ Stade de France as part of the official Olympic handover from Paris to Los Angeles.

LA28 teased additional surprises, but did not confirm Tom Cruise’s widely reported role in the ceremony. Cruise is expected to be featured in a series of stunts at Stade de France, along the streets of Paris and in Los Angeles.

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Jordan Chiles will be asked to return her Olympic bronze medal, IOC says

Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the floor during the women's artistic gymnastics.
The IOC says U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles will be asked to return her bronze medal in floor exercise so it can be given to Romania’s Ana Barbosu.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

PARIS — At the Olympics, there are take-backs.

Jordan Chiles will be asked to return to the bronze medal she was awarded on floor exercise, the International Olympic Committee said in a statement Sunday, after the Court of Arbitration for Sportvoided the inquiry that boosted the U.S. gymnast from fifth place to third. The IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, who placed third with a score of 13.700 after Chiles’ initial score of 13.666 was reinstated.

“We are in touch with the [National Olympic Committee] of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with [U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee] regarding the return of the bronze medal,” the IOC statement read.

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Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands wins the women’s marathon in dramatic finish

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands celebrates after crossing the finish line to win gold.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands celebrates after crossing the finish line to win gold in the Olympic women’s marathon on Sunday.
(Dar Yasin / Associated Press)

PARIS — Sifan Hassan traded elbows with Tigst Assefa with 150 meters left in the women’s marathon, then passed her along the railing to win the race for her third distance medal of the Paris Games on Sunday.

Hassan, an Ethiopian-born racer who runs for the Netherlands, finished in an Olympic record time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 55 seconds. Assefa won silver for Ethiopia, three seconds behind, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took the bronze.

The Ethiopian team lodged a protest to have Hassan disqualified for obstruction, but it was rejected by the Jury of Appeal. It looked as if Assefa was blocking Hassan, who was twice impeded before they traded elbows.

Hassan raised her hands and yelled as he crossed the line, then wrapped the Dutch flag around her head as she celebrated. Wearing an orange bucket hat, she put her arm around Nepal’s Shantoshi Shrestha, whose smile was as bright as the sun pouring down on them.

Then, taking in the enormity of her win, Hassan plunged her head in her hands and appeared to weep with joy.

The 31-year-old Hassan also won bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000. By simply completing the marathon, she ran more than 62 kilometers. She now has six Olympic medals. In Tokyo, Hassan won the 5,000 and 10,000 and finished third in the 1,500.

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Sunday’s Olympics TV schedule: How to watch the closing ceremony

The Eiffel Tower with circles in Olympics colors rotating around it
(Allison Hong / Los Angeles Times photo illustration, Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times photo)

Sunday’s live TV broadcasts unless noted (subject to change). All events stream live on Peacock or NBCOlympics.com with a streaming or cable login.

All times Pacific.

CLOSING CEREMONY

The closing ceremony will be shown live on NBC and Telemundo at noon. NBC will replay the closing ceremony at 7 p.m. on “Primetime in Paris.”

BASKETBALL

2:45 a.m. — Women’s bronze-medal game, Belgium vs. Australia | USA

6:30 a.m. — Women’s gold-medal game, France vs. United States | NBC, Telemundo

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Lasha Talakhadze of Georgia three-peats as Olympic weightlifting champion

PARIS — Lasha Talakhadze of Georgia has won his third consecutive Olympic title in the heaviest weightlifting division, taking gold in the men’s +102 kilograms on Saturday.

Talakhadze won gold in the men’s +102 kilograms after winning at +109 kilograms in Tokyo three years ago and +105 kilograms in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. He won with a total of of 470. Varazdat Lalayan of Armenia got silver with 467 and Gor Minasyan of Bahrain took bronze with 461.

Norway’s Solfrid Koanda won the women’s 82-kilogram division and China’s Liu Huanhua won the men’s 102 kilograms. Each is a new after the weight divisions were reclassified and reduced for the Paris Games.

China has won four weightlifting gold medals and has a chance at a fifth Sunday when Li Wenwen competes in the women’s 81-plus kilograms.

Liu beat Tokyo champion Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan in a reclassified division, as weightlifting was reduced from 14 to 10 events. Djuraev won gold three years ago at 109 kilograms and had to cut down from 240 to 224 pounds (109 to 102 kilograms) for the Paris Games.

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China claims another gold in artistic swimming, caps perfect two weeks at Olympic Aquatics Centre

PARIS — Twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi gave their country another gold in the sport formerly known as synchro, winning the duet competition Saturday night.

The Wangs built a lead in the technical routine the previous night and carried that momentum to a free routine dubbed “Gravitation,” performed to music by Dutch DJ Junkie XL and German film score composer Hans Zimmer.

The Chinese duo received a total of 566.4783 points, holding off two teams that claimed the first artistic swimming medals for their countries.

Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe of Britain earned the silver with 558.5367, edging out another set of twins, Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer, who took bronze for the Netherlands at 558.3963.

Swedes David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig beat Germany in straight sets for men’s beach volleyball gold

Jump-setting Swedes David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig beat Germany in straight sets for men’s beach volleyball gold medal.

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New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr edges American Shelby McEwen for gold after jump-off

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — First they put the bar up higher. Then they lowered it.

Wherever they put the bar, American Shelby McEwen and world indoor champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand couldn’t clear it. The two high jumpers, who could have decided to tie and both get a gold medal, instead put fans through an interminable jump-off for the gold at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.

The two men had 11 straight misses — so many that there wasn’t enough room on the scoreboard for all the Xs — in regulation and the jump-off. The bar was lowered twice during the jump-off, and Kerr finally broke the streak of failures when he got over 2.34 meters (7 feet, 8 inches) to take the gold.

“To do it the way I did it was just amazing,” Kerr said. “It was crazy.”

McEwen was left with the silver, both he and Kerr having cleared 2.36 (7 feet, 8.75).

The duo mutually agreed to the jump-off rather than sharing the gold medal.

“We talked to each other, and he was like, ‘Let’s jump off.’ And I was like, ‘I’m all for it,’” McEwen said.

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting wins gold to conclude Olympics marked by gender controversy

Gold medalist Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting bites her gold medal during the ceremony following the women's 57 kg final
Gold medalist Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting bites her gold medal during the ceremony following the women’s 57 kg final at the 2024 Summer Olympics Saturday in Paris.
(Ariana Cubillos / Associated Press)

PARIS — Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan won a gold medal in the women’s featherweight division at the Paris Olympics on Saturday night, following Imane Khelif’s lead a day earlier with a glittering response to the intense scrutiny faced by both fighters inside the ring and around the world over misconceptions about their womanhood.

Lin routed Julia Szeremeta of Poland 5:0 in the final at Roland Garros, capping her four-fight unbeaten run through Paris by winning Taiwan’s first Olympic boxing gold medal.

“I feel incredible,” Lin said after her fourth consecutive 5:0 win. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me, and thanks to my team and everyone in Taiwan. They gave me the power.”

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American Victor Montalvo takes bronze in breaking competition

American Victor Mantalvo, known as B-Boy Victor, competes during the breaking competition bronze medal battle
American Victor Mantalvo, known as B-Boy Victor, competes during the breaking competition bronze medal battle at the 2024 Summer Olympics Saturday in Paris. Victor won.
(Frank Franklin / Associated Press)

PARIS — Canadian b-boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) took gold in the first Olympic men’s breaking tournament Saturday.

Hometown favorite French b-boy Dany Dann (Danis Civil) won silver, and American b-boy Victor (Victor Montalvo) took the bronze after taking out Japanese b-boy Shigekix (Shigeyuki Nakarai).

“Local hero” Dany Dann, as the emcees referred to him, took the stage each round to rapturous applause, with the crowd chanting “Dany! Dany!” every time he landed a power move. Kim amazed spectators with his powerful moves, quick feet and quirky personality that he synced to the music.

The entire stadium cheered on its feet as both b-boys hugged before the judges announced their scores. Although the battles sparked fierce competition, between rounds and after each battle, the breakers exchanged hugs, pats on the back and sometimes even synced up their movements with each other, contributing to an atmosphere that remained true to the party culture of hip-hop “jams” and “cyphers” — an informal circle formed by breakers in which they enter one by one to dance and battle.

“We’re all representing hip-hop here, we’re all a big family right now,” Montalvo said.

B-boy Victor, an American two-time world champion and the U.S. favorite, was among eight dancers to advance to the quarterfinals after beating out Japan’s b-boy Hiro10 (Hiroto Ono). That win drew loud boos from the many Japanese fans in attendance.

Ono gained rapturous applause after nailing power move after power move — including seemingly endless windmills and headspins — moves that typically get strong reactions from the crowd. Judges are evaluating breakers on more than just their physicality. They’re using the Trivium judging system to grade them on technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality and originality — each accounts for 20% of the final score.

“In breaking, you have to be musical, you have to bring the essence, it’s not just about the moves,” Montalvo said. “Those moves that they’re doing are amazing. But it’s more than that.”

Montalvo and fellow Team USA b-boy Jeffro (Jeffrey Louis), who was knocked out in the quarterfinals, were seeking to redeem the U.S. imprint on the Olympic stage after both American b-girls were eliminated in the first round of Friday’s competition, a blow to the country representing the birthplace of hip-hop and breaking culture. B-girl Logistx (Logan Edra) and b-girl Sunny (Sunny Choi) both ranked in the top 12 internationally but came up short of the quarterfinals.

U.S. men and women sweep gold medals in 4x400-meter relays

The United States' women 4x400-meter relay team celebrates winning the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics
The United States’ women 4x400-meter relay team celebrates winning the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics Saturday in Saint-Denis, France.
(Matthias Schrader / Associated Press)

SAINT-DENIS, France — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas teamed up for America’s 14th gold and 34th overall medal at the track Saturday, wrapping up the Olympic action at the Stade de France with a 4.23-second runaway in the women’s 4x400-meter relay.

The gold medalists in the 400 hurdles and 200 meters took care of legs two and three for the United States, handing a 30-meter lead to Alexis Holmes, who didn’t lose any ground.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who owns the world’s fourth-fastest time in the 400 to go with her latest world record in hurdles, ran her leg in 47.71. That was .91 seconds faster than the next fastest woman in the field, Femke Bol, who took the Netherlands to silver.

The U.S. team, which included Shamier Little, finished in 3 minutes, 15.27 seconds, only .1 short of the world record set by the Soviet Union in 1988.

The American men won gold in the same race in a much closer finish about 15 minutes earlier.

Rai Benjamin held off Letsile Tebogo on the anchor leg to give the U.S. men a gold medal and an Olympic record in the men’s 4x400-meter relay. The U.S. quartet of Christpher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon and Benjamin completed the four laps in 2 minutes, 54.43 seconds, nearly a second faster than the American 4x400 team ran at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Saturday’s time was just .14 seconds off the world record.

The 34 track medals were the most for the U.S. at a non-boycotted Games since the early 20th century, when there were more events and fewer countries, and the 14 golds are the most in a non-boycotted Olympics since 1968.

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Jordan Chiles likely to lose her bronze medal after appeal ruling

PARIS, FRANCE July 24, 2024-U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles takes a break during podium training.
U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles takes a break during podium training ahead of the start of the Paris Olympic Games on July 25.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

PARIS — Jordan Chiles cried in her coach’s arms, stood on an Olympic podium with a bronze medal around her neck and is memorialized in one of the viral moments of these 2024 Summer Games when she joined Simone Biles bowing to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade.

A court ruled Saturday that none of it should have happened.

After a judging inquiry boosted Chiles from fifth place to third in the women’s floor exercise final on Monday, the Romanian gymnastics federation filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport arguing the timing of the inquiry that awarded Chiles the decisive additional tenth. In a partial acceptance of the petition published Saturday, the Court ruled that Chiles’ inquiry came in four seconds too late and that her original score of 13.666 should stand.

It will be up to the International Gymnastics Federation to rank and determine the medals of the women’s floor exercise event according to the Court’s ruling.

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