The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics have drawn to a close, and over 11,000 athletes from all over the world are returning to their home countries — some as jubilant victors, many more as competitors simply proud to have participated.
For China, this year’s Games were hailed as a remarkable success: The country’s athletes took home 40 gold medals and 91 in total, its best-ever showing not on home soil.
But the Olympic Games are defined by camaraderie as much as competition. Every four years, the world’s top athletes come together, not only to test themselves but to celebrate their achievements and those of their peers. Some of the most talked-about moments at this year’s Games, from badminton ace He Bingjiao’s show of solidarity with an injured Spanish rival to 331-pound weightlifter Li Wenwen’s excited leap atop the medal podium, came after the athletes’ respective competitions were over.
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Here is a selection of the best photos from Paris 2024, as chosen by Sixth Tone’s photo editors.
China’s Zheng Qinwen reacts to beating Croatia’s Donna Vekić during the women’s singles tennis final at the Roland Garros Stadium, Aug. 3, 2024. Carl De Souza/AFP via VCG
China’s Deng Yawen competes during the women’s BMX freestyle park final, July 31, 2024. Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via VCG
From left to right, Chinese gold medalist Chen Yiwen, Australian silver medalist Maddison Keeney, and Chinese bronze medalist Chang Yani pose during the medal ceremony after the women’s 3m springboard diving final, Aug. 9, 2024. Oli Scarff/AFP via VCG
Team China, Team Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Team Republic of Korea take a selfie after the table tennis mixed doubles, July 30, 2024. Jean Catuffe/Getty Images/VCG
China’s women’s singles badminton silver medalist He Bingjiao poses with her medal and a Team Spain pin in support of Spanish athlete Carolina Marín, who forfeited in the semifinal due to injury, Aug. 5, 2024. VCG
Chinese silver medal winner Zhou Yaqin (left) looks at gold medal winner Alice D’Amato and bronze medal winner Manila Esposito after the women’s balance beam final, Aug. 5, 2024. Markus Gilliar/GES Sportfoto via VCG
Chinese gold medalists Huang Yuting (left) and Sheng Lihao react after the 10m air rifle mixed team competition, July 27, 2024. Yao Yingkang/Zhejiang Daily/VCG
Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya and China’s Xu Zhuoyi cross the finish line in the men’s 110m hurdles semifinal, Aug. 7, 2024. BSR Agency/VCG
China’s Fan Zhendong (right) poses while playing Sweden in the men’s table tennis team final, Aug. 9, 2024. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via VCG
China’s Ji Bowen and Liu Hao celebrate during the canoe sprint medal ceremony after the men’s canoe double 500m finals, Aug. 8, 2024. Kevin Voigt/GettyImages/VCG
China’s Li Wenwen leaps atop the medal podium with the support of medalists Park Hye-jeong of South Korea (left) and Emily Campbell of Britain (right) during the medal ceremony for the women’s +81kg weightlifting event, Aug. 11, 2024. Kin Cheung/VCG
China’s Zhou Yaqin competes in the athletic gymnastics women’s balance beam final, Aug. 5, 2024. Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via VCG
Ni Xialian of Team Luxembourg greets China’s Sun Yingsha after the women’s singles round of 32 table tennis competition, July 31, 2024. At 61 years old, Shanghai-born Ni was one the eldest athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympics. Zhao Wenyu/CNS/VCG
Team China lines up for the national anthem prior to the women’s hockey gold medal match, Aug. 9, 2024. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/VCG
Members of China’s artistic swimming team compete in the team technical routine at the Paris Aquatic Centre on Aug. 5, 2024. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/VCG
China’s Chen Yuxi competes in the women’s 10m platform diving final, Aug. 6, 2024. Oli Scarff/AFP via VCG
China’s Yang Siqi, the country’s first-ever Olympic surfer, rides a wave during the surfing competition held in Teahupoʻo, French Polynesia, July 27, 2024. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/VCG
Team China’s Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun, and Pan Zhanle celebrate after winning the final of the men’s 4x100m medley relay final swimming event, Aug. 4, 2024. Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via VCG
China’s Qin Haiyang prepares for the men’s 100m breaststroke, July 27, 2024. Fu Tian/CNS/VCG
China’s Huang Yaqiong (sitting) and Zheng Siwei celebrate after winning the mixed doubles badminton final, Aug. 2, 2024. Liu Nan/VCG
China’s Wu Peng (left) and Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo compete in the men’s speed climbing final, Aug. 8, 2024. Jonathan Nackstrand/VCG
China’s Zhang Boheng takes a break during the all-around men’s athletic gymnastics final, July 31, 2024. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to realize his dream of winning gold in Paris, winning silver medals in the team and individual disciplines. VCG
China’s Shi Zhiyong suffers an injury during the 73kg men’s weightlifting competition, Aug. 8, 2024. Stringer/Anadolu via VCG
China’s Quan Hongchan (right) embraces her coach, Chen Ruolin, also an Olympic gold medalist, after her ultimate dive in the women’s 10m platform diving final, Aug. 6, 2024. Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via VCG
China’s Li Wenwen celebrates with her coach during the +81kg women’s weightlifting event, Aug. 11, 2024. Arun Sankar/AFP via VCG
Chinese gymnasts, Huang Zhangjiayang and Guo Qiqi, hold a mascot for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games and celebrate winning the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final, Aug. 10, 2024. Gabriel bouys/AFP via VCG
Fans wave flags in support of China’s team in the marathon race walk mixed relay, Aug. 7, 2024. David Goldman/POOL/VCG
China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan pose for a photo on the top of the podium after the women’s doubles badminton final, Aug. 3, 2024. Rob Carr/Getty Images/VCG
Editor: Tom Arnstein.
