One of many largest takeaways from the Olympics is that so many countries had success in Paris.
Though the US dominated in athletics with 34 medals in whole – greater than the following 5 nations put collectively – 43 nations had been represented on the desk, matching Tokyo as probably the most within the sport for 20 years.
Botswana, Pakistan, Dominica and Saint Lucia obtained their first ever Olympic medals in athletics, taking the entire variety of nations to 105 now.
Thea LaFond and Julien Alfred claimed their respective Olympic triple bounce and 100m titles on the identical night time (August 3) and so they had been the primary gold medals that Dominica and Saint Lucia had received in any sport on the Video games.
Letsile Tebogo’s victory within the 200m secured Botswana’s maiden Olympic gold medal and Arshad Nadeem’s javelin win noticed Pakistan on the highest of an Olympic podium for the primary time since LA 1984.
The opposite notable point out is Ecuador, with Brian Pintando profitable the 20km stroll after which partnering Glenda Morejón to silver within the blended marathon stroll relay. Pintando’s gold medal was the primary in athletics for his nation since Jefferson Pérez achieved the feat in the identical occasion at Atlanta 1996.
All in all, 75 nations positioned inside the highest eight throughout all athletics occasions on the Olympics, showcasing the power in depth of expertise within the sport.
Brian Pintando (Getty)
Julien Alfred stars for Saint Lucia
Julien Alfred’s win within the Olympic 100m ultimate noticed the Saint Lucian create historical past as she claimed her nation’s first ever Olympic medal.
The truth that it was gold made it even sweeter. Alfred regarded supreme and untroubled in a moist Stade de France and ran a nationwide file of 10.72 to beat world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson.
Alfred eased by way of the rounds and clocked 10.95 and 10.84 in her warmth and semi-final.
When the beginning gun went off within the ultimate, it was no shock to see the 23-year-old get out of the blocks and into her stride shortly.
Alfred was untouchable when it mattered probably the most and victory was by no means unsure, sparking wild celebrations on the island.
Just a few days later Alfred adopted up her 100m gold with silver within the 200m, ending behind Gabby Thomas with 22.08.
Julien Alfred for Saint Lucia (Getty)
Thea LaFond takes decisive win for Dominica
When Thea LaFond received the world indoor triple bounce title again in March, she said afterwards that she wished “to be an inspiration for individuals in my stunning nation within the Caribbean”.
If LaFond wasn’t already a family identify throughout Dominica from that victory in Glasgow then she positively would’ve been after Olympic gold in Paris.
The 30-year-old was simply one in every of 4 Dominican athletes on the Video games however stood on the highest of the Olympic podium.
LaFond recorded a better of 15.02m within the triple bounce and that was greater than sufficient for the gold medal, with Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts coming closest with 14.87m.
Already a double Commonwealth medallist within the occasion, LaFond went into 2024 with excessive expectations however even this may’ve been past her wildest desires.
Thea LaFond (Getty)
Letsile Tebogo’s breathtaking gold for Botswana
Botswana has a wealthy historical past on the Olympics and the nation made its debut at Moscow 1980.
Nijel Amos received Botswana’s first ever Olympic medal at London 2012, ending second to David Rudisha – who set the world 800m file of 1:40.91 – over two laps. Nonetheless, earlier than Paris 2024 the nation had by no means received gold.
That each one modified nonetheless when Letsile Tebogo blew everybody away within the 200m on the Stade de France, operating 19.46 to take the gold medal.
Not solely was it the joint-ninth quickest time in historical past however Tebogo beat double world 200m champion Noah Lyles, who later revealed he ran the race with Covid.
Tebogo then returned to assist anchor Botswana to 4x400m silver behind the US.
The 21-year-old paid tribute to his mum, who sadly handed away again in Might, afterwards and acquired a heroes’ welcome on return to Botswana.
Letsile Tebogo (Getty)
Arshad Nadeem’s highly effective throw seals title for Pakistan
Once you consider Pakistan v India, your thoughts will immediately flip to cricket.
Nonetheless, on the Olympics the 2 nations battled it out within the javelin, with Arshad Nadeem going up towards Neeraj Chopra for the most important prize within the sport.
Chopra, who was the reigning Olympic champion from Tokyo, went into Paris because the favorite however Nadeem had claimed the Commonwealth crown in 2022.
Nadeem set his sight on gold from the outset with a surprising Olympic file of 92.97m, going sixth on the javelin all-time listing.
Chopra’s better of 89.45m was sufficient for the silver medal, which means that Nadeem received Pakistan’s first ever Olympic gold medal in athletics – their first in any sport since LA 1984.
Arshad Nadeem (Getty)
Ecuadorian excellence within the race walks
The final time a South American nation received the Olympic males’s 20km race stroll was at Atlanta 1996 when Ecuador’s Jefferson Pérez struck gold.
On the streets of the Parisian capital, Brian Pintado adopted within the footsteps of his compatriot Pérez and stood on the highest of the rostrum within the French capital.
Pintado recorded a time of 1:18:55 and beat Brazil’s Caio Bonfim by 14 seconds.
The Ecuadorian then teamed up with Glenda Morejón to say silver within the marathon blended relay, ending behind the Spanish pair of Álvaro Martín and María Pérez.
With two medals for Ecuador at Paris 2024, the nation has now bought 4 medals in athletics – the opposite being Pérez getting 20km race stroll silver at Beijing 2008 – of their historical past.
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