Claire Lenarduzzi

In the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. had 67 female medalists compared to 52 male medalists.

Setting a new standard for gender equality in sports, the 2024 Paris Olympics had the same ratio of men to women competing for the first time in history. Though it is an accomplishment for women’s empowerment, it is still a recent accomplishment.

The first time Paris hosted the Olympics was in 1900, and while women were allowed to compete, there were many limitations in place for those who would. There were only 22 women total who were allowed to participate in a few events. Since that time, female participation has continued to grow 

Prior to the 2012 London Summer Olympics, opportunities for men and women were far from equal, with multiple countries sending only men, and certain events excluding women from competing. London hosted the first Games with every country entering both genders and allowing participation for both in all events. 

In Paris, 20 mixed gender events were offered, with 26 of the 32 events being completely gender balanced. With that, 10,500 athletes competed in the games, and for the first time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an equal number of available spots for women and men.  

Equality history was created, as well as breakout stories from many new and older athletes across the world. Below are five women’s wins from the 2024 Summer Olympics. 

Ilona Maher

Rapidly growing her online success across various social media platforms, Ilona Maher forged her way to stardom not only through rugby also but through her positive influence on social media. 

Maher started her rugby career at the age of 17 and soon after went to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut to continue the sport, and won the MA Sorensen Award, which recognizes the national collegiate rugby plate of the year. Maher then joined the U.S. national women’s team. She competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the women’s sevens rugby team placed sixth. 

Four years later, Maher is bringing more attention to the sport through her influence. On her media accounts, Maher started by showing athletes’ lives within the Olympic Village, comparing the experience to Peacock’s reality television show “Love Island,” and their experience in the villa. 

Maher continued to use her platform throughout the Olympics to advocate for body positivity. In her viral TikTok video, she discussed the various body types competing at the Olympics.

“From the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, to a rugby player, shot putter, and a sprinter. All body types are beautiful and can do amazing things,” Maher wrote.

Additionally, many social media users are crediting rugby’s increase in viewership to Maher. The U.S. women’s seven rugby team earned bronze at the Paris Olympics, the first time the team has medaled in history. The bronze game was played against Australia, and the game was close throughout with the U.S. coming out on top, scoring a try in the last seconds of the match. 

Maher’s positive influence advocating for female athletes as well as body positivity has left a mark on fans throughout the nation. Her performance at the Paris games and effect on major media outlets only proved her importance as an athlete and influencer. 

U.S. womens track 

Coming into the Paris games, the U.S. had track and field stars ready to represent, and defend the country across various events. Sha’Carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin-Leverone were among the elite athletes, both expected to win gold for the U.S.

Richardson, an American track and field sprinter, grew up in Texas, where she spent most of her childhood, before attending Louisiana State University. There, as a freshman, she won the Division 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in the 100-meter race. Her time of 10.75 seconds broke the NCAA record, establishing her as one of the fastest women in the world. 

In 2021, prior to the Tokyo Olympics, Richardson won the USA 100m Olympic trials held in Eugene, Oregon, but was not rostered on the team. It was reported that Richardson tested positive for THC, a chemical used in marijuana, and therefore would be on a 30 day suspension from track and unable to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. As the drug is legal in Oregon, where Richardson consumed it, the public was outraged as many believed the rule was unfair. Ultimately, Richardson was unable to compete and had to wait until Paris to make her Olympic debut.

Prior to the 2024 Olympics, Richardson was favored to win gold as her time of 10.71 seconds (her personal best) was the fastest in the world this season. The race came down to 0.15th of a second with Julien Alfred winning gold and Richarson winning silver. Six days later, Richardson took the Olympic stage again, this time competing in the 4×100-meter relay, as the fourth leg. The team qualified for the finals, beating out Great Britain and Germany to secure gold. 

Also coming into the Paris games, with an expected gold medal performance, McLaughlin-Leverone made history in multiple events. McLaughlin-Leverone is a hurdler and sprinter for the U.S. whose main event is the 400 meter hurdles. In 2016, she took third in the 400 meter hurdle event at 16 years old in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Four years later, she took the Tokyo Olympic stage, winning gold in the same event. 

In 2024, prior to Paris, McLaughlin-Leverone set a new world record for the event at 50.65 seconds, beating out her own record by 0.02 seconds. In the Olympics, McLaughlin-Leverone was expected to break her own record again and did, running a time of 50.37 seconds and winning gold. A couple days later, she competed in the women’s 4×400 relay as the second leg, helping the team get first place. 

In the end, both track athletes added to their medal collection. McLaughlin-Leverone earned her fourth Olympic gold medal while continuously breaking world records. Richardson made her Olympic debut after facing adversity, but came out victorious, winning a silver and gold medal. 

Imane Khelif 

Imane Khelif, an Algerian professional boxer, made headlines across major media outlets after defeating Italy’s Angela Carini in a quick 46 second competition. The two only exchanged a few punches before Carini quit her bout, making Khelif the automatic winner. After the competition, Carini refused to shake her hand and instead sank to her knees and started crying.

Soon after, conservative accounts and politicians began to accuse Khelif of being transgender, including Donald Trump, J.K. Rowling, and Elon Musk. Though there was no proof of Khelif being born biologically male, many social media users began targeting her with anti-trans hate. 

Khelif is a victim of transvestigation, a conspiracy theory attacking mainly powerful female athletes in order to accuse them of being transgender. It was reported by the IOC that Khelif did report high levels of testosterone, but this is an occurrence naturally possible for cisgender women. 

This isn’t the first time Khelif’s testosterone level has been a topic of conversation. In 2023 Khelif and another boxer, Lin Yu-ting, were both disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA), in the world championship after failing an unspecialized gender test. Currently, the IBA, a Russian-Led organization, is no longer in association with the IOC due to their “financial and ethical impropriety.” Prior to the Paris Olympics, the IOC continued to defend Lin and Kehlif as both women have eligible passports.

“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying, all athletes,” Khelif told Somali National Television. “It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit, and mind.” 

In the Paris Olympics, Khelif continued to win each of her bouts, and eventually made it to the gold medal 66 kg match. There, Kehlif defeated China’s Yang Lui to secure her first Olympic Gold, and Algeria’s second boxing medal in history.  

Kehlifs performed in the Olympics despite the surrounding controversy of her personal matters. The situation also brought light to the topic of transvestigation, and how trans hate can not only affect members of the transgender community but people who are cisgender as well.

Simone Biles

Upholding a renowned career in gymnastics, Simone Biles is officially the most decorated gymnast in history. Her career has influenced athletes through her athletic accomplishments, as well as her acknowledgment for mental health.

Biles started gymnastics at six years old in Columbus, Ohio, where she was born. Biles was considered a prodigy as she won multiple medals in high-level competitions. In 2016, Biles made her Olympic debut at the Rio Summer Olympics. She won gold in four events: including floor, team, all-around, vault, and a bronze medal on the balance beam. 

Four years later, in the Tokyo games, Biles was expected to dominate in multiple events but withdrew from the competition after earning two medals, silver in the team event, bronze on the beam. Immediately after her withdrawal from the games, USA Gymnastics said her reasoning was a “medical issue.” 

Biles was praised by her fans for being open and honest about her mental health. She explained what she was experiencing as “the twisties.” The term is used by gymnasts to describe a physiological occurrence where the athlete feels a disconnect between their mind and body, possibly leading to serious injuries while performing. 

Four years later, the anticipation for Biles’s return was higher than ever. Her 30 world championship medals set her apart from the competition at the 2024 Olympics as the most decorated gymnast in history. In the Paris games, Biles did not disappoint as she medaled in four events. Biles won gold for three of her competitions and earned silver in the other. 

Her performance led some to believe that Biles is indeed the greatest gymnast of all time and possibly the greatest Olympian in history as well. Though it’s up for debate, Biles’s nickname, “The G.O.A.T.” sums up her time at the Paris games.

Olympic firsts

Across the 2024 Paris Olympics, there were many accomplishments throughout a wide range of sports, highlighting both individual athletes, and countries as a whole. Olympians such as Thea LaFond, Julian Alfred, and Cindy Ngamba each earned a personal medal, while making history for their country. 

LaFond, an American-Dominican track and field athlete, put her country on the map this past Olympics, as by winning the first-ever Olympic medal for Dominica. LaFond competed in the triple long jump after winning the World Indoor Championship for the event in 2024. A few months later, she jumped 15.02 meters, setting a national record for women’s triple jump. This length also won her the gold medal, making it the first for the country of Dominica. 

Similarly, Alfred competed in track and field, but instead for the country of Saint Lucia. Alfred was among one of the highly elite sprinters heading into Paris, alongside America’s Sha’Carri Richardson. Alfred ran the 100-meter sprint, one of the most anticipated races of the games, and showed out. The sprinter then achieved a national record time of 10.72 seconds, securing gold for her country, its first-ever Olympic Medal. Later in Paris, Alfred took home silver in the women’s 200-meter final, making her a two-time medalist, and putting her in history books across the world. 

Ngamba also had a historic performance at her Olympic debut this past summer. Ngamba, a boxer for the Refugee team, competed in middleweight boxing after qualifying for the games. In 2009, at the age of 11, Ngamba fled Cameroon to take refuge in the UK, and was allowed asylum in 2022. Two years later, Ngamba earned bronze in women’s middleweight boxing, making her the first Refugee Olympic medalist.