Paris is often nicknamed the “City of Lights” or the “City of Love,” but this summer, it will take on a new title: the “City of Olympians,” as 10,500 athletes will compete for glory and gold in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Olympics have long provided a rare occasion for women to be highlighted just as often as male athletes, but the 2024 games will go down in history as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) achieved full gender equality by offering the same quota place numbers to both men and women. With National Girls and Women in Sports Day arriving shortly on Feb. 7, 2024, there is no better time to recognize female Olympians who have made their mark.
Having the most World Championship gold medals at a whopping 23, Simone Biles is known as the World Championship’s most decorated gymnast, with a total of 30 medals. Since her first Olympic games in 2016, Biles has earned seven medals, four of which were gold. However, the last time she made an appearance at the Olympics, fans watched her struggle with the “twisties,” a severe mental block, that pushed her to withdraw from many competitions. Many thought her Olympic career was over following her mental and physical battle during the 2020 Tokyo games, but Biles is set to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which would make her the oldest U.S. Olympic female gymnast since 1952.
“Simone Biles is an amazing athlete, and she goes for what she wants. She inspires female athletes to go for what they want in life,” Olivia Mierzejewski, freshman, said.
Katie Ledecky swam into the Olympic scene at the early age of 15, winning her first gold medal during the 2012 games. While she has already accumulated seven gold medals and three silver, as well as the world record times for freestyle runs, she is making another appearance at the 2024 Olympic games. Many are hopeful that she can bring home another gold medal, tying the all-time female record with American Jenny Thompson.
“Being a swimmer, a lot of my female teammates and myself look up to Ledecky, as she is an extremely talented and decorated athlete. Her dedication to the sport is motivating to female athletes, especially female swimmers. She has already surpassed Micheal Phelps for individual swimming titles, so my teammates and I are so excited to see what she can do at the 2024 Olympics. We obviously want gold for Katie,” Charlotte Luina, senior, said.
The U.S. Olympic team won their first gold medal for the women’s 800m in 1968, only to not see another gold title for 53 years when Athing Mu ran a national record at the Tokyo Games. Mu made history as the first Black woman to win the Olympic 800m. She has been said to radiate confidence, even running the 2020 Olympic final with the word written on a red barrette. Her own victories have opened the door for racial and gender equality in the running world. Now, as a 22-year-old, Mu is headed to the 2024 Paris Olympics to defend her titles.
“As Athing Mu defends her title in the 2024 Olympics, she not only races for gold, but champions a broader cause—the pursuit of equality for athletes. With each stride, she challenges barriers, not just on the track, but in society, forging a path where talent, determination, and dreams know no gender, inspiring a legacy of inclusivity in the arena of champions,” Adam Berwald, junior, said.
Ringing in a new year almost always means ringing in new goals, and these women have Olympic-sized intentions for Paris 2024. As National Girls and Women in Sports Day approaches, take a moment to appreciate and celebrate the opportunities and success women across the country have fought for and gained over the centuries. Do not forget to tune in to these three athletes, in addition to the many men and women headed to represent the United States, as they pack their bags and head to this year’s City of Olympians, or Paris, in late July.
