Cover The Eiffel Tower lit in the colours of the French bid logo during the launch of the international campaign for Paris' bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games (Photo: Getty Images)
The Eiffel Tower lit in the colours of the French bid logo during the launch of the international campaign for Paris' bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games (Photo: Getty Images)
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With the 2024 Paris Olympics looming, journey with us through time to relive some of the most groundbreaking moments that have shaped the Games as we know them today
The Olympic Games have long been a stage for human excellence, pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible and providing a platform for moments that transcend sport.
From jaw-dropping athletic feats to powerful statements of unity and equality, the Olympics have given us some of the most unforgettable occasions in sporting history.
Read more: 10 historic firsts and significant features of Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games
Right around the corner, starting July 26 until August 11, 2024, some of the most formidable star athletes from around the globe will take on the 2024 Paris Olympics. But before that, let’s look at some of the most groundbreaking events in Olympic history, and why they matter beyond sports.
Above A 2024 Paris Olympics spot by Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games
Jesse Owens defies Hitler (1936 Berlin Olympics)
Above Owens at the start of the race (Photo: Getty Images)
Owens at the start of the race (Photo: Getty Images)
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African American athlete Jesse Owens, also known as “The Buckeye Bullet”, bagged four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics–a remarkable feat that wasn’t just a display of athletic prowess, it was a powerful statement against Nazi Germany’s racist ideologies.
See also: 6 elite athletes from Asia redefining sports excellence
Owens’ victories in the 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, and 4x100 metre relay were a direct challenge to Hitler’s notion of Aryanism, an ideology of racial supremacy which views the supposed Aryan race as a distinct and superior racial group which is entitled to rule the rest of humanity. The sight of Owens on the podium, with a gold medal around his neck, was a beacon of hope and a testament to the unifying power of sport.
Above Highlights from the 1936 Berlin Olympics as Owens wins the gold medal in the men’s 100 metres athletics event
What made this moment truly groundbreaking was its impact beyond the stadium. Owens became a symbol of resilience and equality, his achievements resonating through the decades and inspiring generations of athletes to come.
Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10 (1976 Montreal Olympics)
Above Comaneci looks at the Olympic scoreboard indicating her perfect score of 10.0, as 1.00 (Photo: Getty Images)
Comaneci looks at the Olympic scoreboard indicating her perfect score of 10.0, as 1.00 (Photo: Getty Images)
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Before 1976, perfection in gymnastics was considered theoretically possible but practically unattainable. Until Nadia Comaneci, of course. At the 197 Montreal Olympics, the 14-year-old Romanian gymnast rewrote the record books and redefined excellence in her sport.
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During her routine on the uneven bars, a key apparatus in gymnastics, Comaneci’s performance was completed with such flawless precision that the judges awarded her a perfect 10–the first in the world of gymnastics in the Olympics and a score so unprecedented that the scoreboard could only display it as 1.00, as it wasn’t programmed for four-digit scores.
Above Comaneci became the first gymnast in Olympic history to be awarded the perfect score of 10.0 for her performance on the uneven bars
This wasn’t just a one-off either. Comaneci, with her graceful, ballerina-like moves, went on to receive six more perfect 10s during the Montreal Games, setting a new standard in gymnastics and capturing the world’s imagination. During her career, she won nine Olympic medals and four World Artistic Gymnastics Championship medals.
Her achievements broke through the ceiling of what was considered possible in the sport, inspiring gymnasts worldwide to strive for perfection.
“The Dream Team” debuts (1992 Barcelona Olympics)
Above “The Dream Team” receive their gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
“The Dream Team” receive their gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
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The inclusion of professional athletes in the Olympics marked a seismic shift in the Games’ landscape and nowhere was this more evident than in basketball at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The US sent a team that was less a basketball squad and more a collection of living legends, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and more.
Dubbed “The Dream Team”, this assemblage of NBA superstars revolutionised Olympic basketball. Their on-court dominance was unprecedented–they won their games by an average of 44 points–but their impact extended far beyond the scoreboard.
Above Throwback to moments from the basketball final of the US’ Dream Team against Croatia at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
Their presence globalised basketball in a way never seen before, inspiring a generation of international players and paving the way for the sport’s explosive growth worldwide. It marked a turning point in Olympic history, blurring the lines between amateur and professional sports and ushering in a new era of elite competition.
Cathy Freeman unites a nation (2000 Sydney Olympics)
Above Freeman, elated after winning gold in the 400-metre final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
Freeman, elated after winning gold in the 400-metre final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
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Sometimes, a single moment can encapsulate the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. Such was the case when sprinter Cathy Freeman took to the track in the 400-metre final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. As an Indigenous Australian, Freeman carried the weight of history on her shoulders. The sight of her lighting the Olympic cauldron in the spectacular opening ceremony had already provided one of the Games’ most iconic images, but her performance in the 400 metres truly captivated the world.
Running in her now-famous full-body suit, Freeman stormed to victory, becoming the first Aboriginal Australian to win an individual Olympic gold medal by four metres in 49.11 seconds. As she took her victory lap, carrying the Australian and Aboriginal flags on her back, Freeman became a powerful symbol of reconciliation and national unity.
Above The day Freeman won Olympic gold as she beat Lorraine Graham and Katherine Merry in the Women's 400 metres final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
Her breakthrough went beyond sport, catalysing discussions about Indigenous rights and representation in Australia, bringing new attention to Aboriginal people, who had historically encountered discrimination. It was Freeman’s last Olympics before retiring in 2023 and boy, did she go out with a legendary bang. Her victory lap became a metaphor for a nation striving to embrace its complex history and move forward together.
In 2023, the Eastern Grandstand at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park was officially renamed the Cathy Freeman Stand.
Simone Biles champions mental health (2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021)
Above Biles, the gravity-defying gymnast, became an unexpected advocate for mental health (Photo: Getty Images)
Biles, the gravity-defying gymnast, became an unexpected advocate for mental health (Photo: Getty Images)
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In an Olympic moment that redefined strength, the gravity-defying gymnast Simone Biles, widely regarded as the greatest of all time in her sport, withdrew from several events at the Tokyo Olympics to prioritise her mental health.
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Biles’ decision to step back from competition was groundbreaking in its own right. In a world where athletes are often expected to push through any obstacle, she showed that true strength sometimes means knowing when to stop. Her openness about her struggles with mental health and the pressures of elite sport sparked a global conversation about athlete welfare.
Above Biles on grappling with vulnerability and self-doubt, redefining what it means to be a champion on her own terms in the four-part Netflix documentary series, ‘Simone Biles Rising’
This moment marked a significant shift in how we perceive athletes and mental health in sports. Biles’ courage in prioritising her well-being over medals challenged long-held notions about athletic toughness and paved the way for more open discussions about mental health in high-performance environments.
Premiering on July 17, 2024, ahead of Paris 2024, Netflix’s ‘Simone Biles Rising’ will follow her journey and training ahead of her highly anticipated return to the Olympics.
The Olympic Games have always been about more than just sport–they reflect our society, values, and aspirations.
As we look ahead to Paris 2024 and the future Olympics, one can only wonder what groundbreaking moments await us. Which records will be shattered? What societal changes will be reflected on the world’s greatest sporting stage? Whatever they may be, we can be certain that the Olympic Games will continue to inspire, unite, and showcase the very best of human potential.
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Lainey was the Digital Director of Tatler Malaysia. When not whiling away the hours watching documentaries, the latest K-drama, or reruns of Friends, she can be found indulging her wanderlust by stalking travel platforms or feeding her obsession with music. She loves animals, running, all things social media, a good conversation over coffee or soju or wine (often rambling on if nobody pulls the brakes on her), and is an avid fan of bursting-at-the-seams laughter.
