Paris 2024 Olympics: Records, tears, smiles… images of a golden fortnight

While remaining stunned by the athletes’ breathtaking performances, we almost forget that sport is above all a matter of emotions. And it’s really an understatement to say that the Blues offer us raw happiness. From the first gold medal of rugby player Antoine Dupont and his band, to the extraordinary performance of triathlete Cassandre Beaugrand, via the inevitable Léon Marchand, the French athletes have made us dream throughout this fortnight. But enough of the cock-a-doodle-doo. There’s hardly any need to share a nationality to take part in the joy of the champions, the spirit of the Olympics obliges. American gymnast Simone Biles, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis… all have thrilled us through their particular destiny.

These Games remind us that the top step of the podium is not necessary to move us. How can we not sympathize with the pain of Tatsuru Saito, a 22-year-old Japanese judoka, twice beaten by Teddy Riner in the final of the team tournament? His tears tell us how much this sport is king in his country. Some places of honor have a golden flavor. The French swimmer Anastasiia Kirpichnikova was “only” aiming for bronze in the 1500 meters before finishing second. Promising. Just like the bronze medal won by Montpellier’s Félix Lebrun, a young 17-year-old table tennis genius. Others will leave empty-handed and are no less touching. When such champions collapse, it is impossible to remain unmoved: their sadness as well as their joy are ours.