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The best photographs from Paris Olympics 2024 and the stories behind them

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

A surfer soaring above the clouds, a BMX champion riding up the Concorde obelisk... photographers reveal how they captured these iconic images.

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1 / 12

US' Simone Biles (silver), Brazil's Rebeca Andrade (gold) and US' Jordan Chiles (bronze) pose during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women's floor exercise event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris. AFP photographer Gabriel Bouys described it as "a super classy gesture" and the symbol of sisterhood quickly went viral. "I saw the Americans talking to each other before the medal ceremony, I suspected that something was going to happen and I decided to broaden the scope", he said. "I'm not the one making the photo, they are. It was a super nice moment," he said, adding that it reflected the overall atmosphere of the Games.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

US' Simone Biles (silver), Brazil's Rebeca Andrade (gold) and US' Jordan Chiles (bronze) pose during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women's floor exercise event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris. AFP photographer Gabriel Bouys described it as "a super classy gesture" and the symbol of sisterhood quickly went viral. "I saw the Americans talking to each other before the medal ceremony, I suspected that something was going to happen and I decided to broaden the scope", he said. "I'm not the one making the photo, they are. It was a super nice moment," he said, adding that it reflected the overall atmosphere of the Games.

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A unique setting, careful positioning and a huge dose of luck was the recipe for the image of BMX champion Jose Torres Gil seeming to cycle up the side of the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde. Jeff Pachoud took it during training on July 29, two days before the Argentinian won gold. "It wasn't just one click, it was a burst and in that, there was an image which gave this amazing visual impression," he said.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

A unique setting, careful positioning and a huge dose of luck was the recipe for the image of BMX champion Jose Torres Gil seeming to cycle up the side of the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde. Jeff Pachoud took it during training on July 29, two days before the Argentinian won gold. "It wasn't just one click, it was a burst and in that, there was an image which gave this amazing visual impression," he said.

3 / 12

It's one of the most widely used images from the Games: Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina seemingly levitating above the waves, finger to the sky, surfboard vertically behind him. The shot was taken at Teahupo'o in French Polynesia on July 29 by Jérôme Brouillet from a boat in a nearby channel.The deeper, calmer area of water is away from the bigger waves, blocking any clear view of the surfing action and Brouillet said he was "blind" up to the last second.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

It's one of the most widely used images from the Games: Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina seemingly levitating above the waves, finger to the sky, surfboard vertically behind him. The shot was taken at Teahupo'o in French Polynesia on July 29 by Jérôme Brouillet from a boat in a nearby channel.The deeper, calmer area of water is away from the bigger waves, blocking any clear view of the surfing action and Brouillet said he was "blind" up to the last second.

4 / 12

It was the last major title missing from his career: on August 4, Novak Djokovic took Olympic gold by defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Photographer Patricia de Melo Moreira was there to snap the moment he completed the so-called "Golden Slam" of titles and the usually stoic champion marked it with a roar of emotion. She had been placed until the last moment on Alcaraz's side.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

It was the last major title missing from his career: on August 4, Novak Djokovic took Olympic gold by defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Photographer Patricia de Melo Moreira was there to snap the moment he completed the so-called "Golden Slam" of titles and the usually stoic champion marked it with a roar of emotion. She had been placed until the last moment on Alcaraz's side.

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Biles put together some flawless performances to win three gold medals, but the gymnastics superstar failed on the beam on August 5, finishing only fifth after a fall. The session did provide an arresting image by Loïc Venance, however."What I look for in gymnastics are really clean photos, with a black background and especially no light panels and logos," he said. For this last day of artistic gymnastics, the photographer arrived at least two hours early to have an ideal spot.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

Biles put together some flawless performances to win three gold medals, but the gymnastics superstar failed on the beam on August 5, finishing only fifth after a fall. The session did provide an arresting image by Loïc Venance, however."What I look for in gymnastics are really clean photos, with a black background and especially no light panels and logos," he said. For this last day of artistic gymnastics, the photographer arrived at least two hours early to have an ideal spot.

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Tahitian Kauli Vaast tamed the Teahupo'o wave to become France's first-ever surfing gold medallist on the night of August 5-6. The only agency photographer accredited to follow the surfing events underwater, Ben Thouard caught Vaast during the semi-finals a few hours before his victory. Thouard, who has been taking surf photos for 20 years, freedives to take these shots and said they require "a very precise and very close position."

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

Tahitian Kauli Vaast tamed the Teahupo'o wave to become France's first-ever surfing gold medallist on the night of August 5-6. The only agency photographer accredited to follow the surfing events underwater, Ben Thouard caught Vaast during the semi-finals a few hours before his victory. Thouard, who has been taking surf photos for 20 years, freedives to take these shots and said they require "a very precise and very close position."

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With several training sessions cancelled due to poor water quality, it was uncertain until the last moment whether events would take place in the River Seine, despite months of preparations. Finally, the women's triathlon became the first to use the river on July 31. The first Olympic dive was captured from the water by Martin Bureau, equipped with a waterproof case for his camera, at the foot of the Alexandre III bridge.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

With several training sessions cancelled due to poor water quality, it was uncertain until the last moment whether events would take place in the River Seine, despite months of preparations. Finally, the women's triathlon became the first to use the river on July 31. The first Olympic dive was captured from the water by Martin Bureau, equipped with a waterproof case for his camera, at the foot of the Alexandre III bridge.

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There was never much doubt about who would win the pole vault, but Sweden's Armand Duplantis still made it special as he extended his world record to 6.25m on August 5. "The atmosphere was incredible... the noise from the crowd was extraordinary," said photographer Ben Stansall. "I was standing away from the pole vault on the other side of the in-field with a 400mm lens," he said.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

There was never much doubt about who would win the pole vault, but Sweden's Armand Duplantis still made it special as he extended his world record to 6.25m on August 5. "The atmosphere was incredible... the noise from the crowd was extraordinary," said photographer Ben Stansall. "I was standing away from the pole vault on the other side of the in-field with a 400mm lens," he said.

9 / 12

The French judokas were celebrating on August 3 after winning their second Olympic mixed team title against Japan, thanks especially to two victories by superstar Teddy Riner. The moment was captured by Jack Guez, who slid underneath the group. He had hoped to do the same at the Tokyo Games in 2021, where France also bested Japan, but the International Judo Federation did not allow access to the mat.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

The French judokas were celebrating on August 3 after winning their second Olympic mixed team title against Japan, thanks especially to two victories by superstar Teddy Riner. The moment was captured by Jack Guez, who slid underneath the group. He had hoped to do the same at the Tokyo Games in 2021, where France also bested Japan, but the International Judo Federation did not allow access to the mat.

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In one of closest races of all time, US sprinter Noah Lyles snatched the 100m gold by just five-thousandths of a second ahead of Jamaica's Kishane Thompson."The 100m finals are always a high-tension event. I always feel privileged to be part of our team covering athletics," said  Jewel Samad,  who caught the moment with one of 10 cameras installed high up on a wire and triggered from the finishing line.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

In one of closest races of all time, US sprinter Noah Lyles snatched the 100m gold by just five-thousandths of a second ahead of Jamaica's Kishane Thompson."The 100m finals are always a high-tension event. I always feel privileged to be part of our team covering athletics," said Jewel Samad, who caught the moment with one of 10 cameras installed high up on a wire and triggered from the finishing line.

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With four golds and a bronze, French swimmer Leon Marchand has been one of the sensations of this Games. The champion was immortalised by Oli Scarff, who snapped an underwater shot illustrating his power during the semi-final of the 200m butterfly on July 30. It was taken with a robotic camera developed over several years by AFP photographer Francois-Xavier Marit.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

With four golds and a bronze, French swimmer Leon Marchand has been one of the sensations of this Games. The champion was immortalised by Oli Scarff, who snapped an underwater shot illustrating his power during the semi-final of the 200m butterfly on July 30. It was taken with a robotic camera developed over several years by AFP photographer Francois-Xavier Marit.

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It's an unprecedented image: North and South Korean table tennis medallists taking a selfie together on the podium on July 30. Their two countries have technically been at war since 1953 and tensions are currently extremely high, so it was a rare and welcome sign of cross-border fraternity. Such selfies are common on Olympic podiums, but the moment was still moving for AFP's South Korean photographer Jung Yeon-je.

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:02 AM IST

It's an unprecedented image: North and South Korean table tennis medallists taking a selfie together on the podium on July 30. Their two countries have technically been at war since 1953 and tensions are currently extremely high, so it was a rare and welcome sign of cross-border fraternity. Such selfies are common on Olympic podiums, but the moment was still moving for AFP's South Korean photographer Jung Yeon-je.

News / Photos / Lifestyle Photos / The best photographs from Paris Olympics 2024 and the stories behind them

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