Gold medals galore. Record-breaking performances. History-writing races. Legends across multiple sports performing at the peak of their powers. One breathtaking finish after another.
This was the peak Olympics experience.
It was also one of the most rewarding days of the year from a sports fan’s perspective. It was the only day of the Games where swimming, track and field and gymnastics all had crossover competition with many of the most famous athletes vying for medals. There was a three-hour window on Saturday wherein one incredible gold medal event followed another, as if fed out on a conveyor belt. It was sports nirvana. The gush brought to mind the frenzy of a first-round NCAA Tournament day, only instead of being inundated with one sport, we got a variety of action with amazing athletes, all fighting to win for themselves and their countries.
I’ve got a hunch that, when we look back decades from now, Aug. 3, 2024, may well be remembered as an all-timer due to not just the nature of how some of the biggest events ended, but who they featured — most of them women.
Katie Ledecky. Simone Biles. Summer McIntosh. Sha’Carri Richardson. And a brand new legend: Julien Alfred.
Let’s start…
