2024 Commemorative Olympic Issue!

20 Aug 2024 Commemorative Olympic Issue!

Posted at 15:34h in Issue Previews by Christy Sandmaier 0 Comments

Features Sneak Peek!

Allez!

Each day before the competition inside Bercy Arena, the crowd warmed up by chanting “Allez!” which means “go!” or “let’s go!” en français. It perfectly set the tone, electrified the atmosphere, and created an aura of great expectations. As gymnastics stars from around the world gathered for an unprecedented Games, emotion, energy, and a touch of destiny framed every competition. We saw history made each day with Olympic firsts – the improbable stories of Carlos Yulo and Kaylia Nemour among so many.

We saw Simone Biles solidify her status as the greatest of all time and the greatest we may ever see in the sport. Trending at the Games as it has all year, the power of women in sports also took center stage as 26 of the 40 U.S. gold medals were won by women, a breathtaking achievement in its own on the Olympic stage. We saw a redemption tour glittered with gold, the U.S. men rise to the podium for the first time in 16 years, the Italian and Brazilian women make history, and a Japanese men’s team overcome incredible adversity to the most unlikely of gold medal finishes. We saw medals awarded, taken away, and awarded again in the Women’s Floor Final – a chapter that will leave a mark on what was until then, a glorious Games in Olympic gymnastics. The athletes rose and will continue to fight for what they believe is right – a testament to their strength, determination, and the Olympic spirit – Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Sport has the power to inspire generations, communities and countries. The power to create camaraderie and allow people to have faith. In 2024, Paris was the star of the show. The ambiance was beyond welcoming and warm, dotted by colorful cafés, ecstatic fans, and families waiting to hug their athlete – the sidewalks coming alive each morning at 6 a.m. and staying bright and celebratory well past midnight. The people, the energy, the color, the emotion, the bridges connecting us to each other across countries and sports, and the history all created a stunning harmony reflected in the face of every athlete and every fan. Merci beaucoup. Thank you so much, Paris, for being so much more than a host.

USA, MAG Quali, Artistic Gymnastics, Jul 27

… With two events to go, it was clear if they hit six for six they would be Olympic medalists for the first time since 2008. Floor was great, however, most people felt nothing really mattered until horse. Paul Juda and Brody Malone hit well, and that meant there was just one to go, Stephen Nedoroscik. He was in this position at the World Championships in 2022 and it didn’t go well. Now it was a chance at redemption, this time with an Olympic medal on the line. He’d been waiting hours while the competition moved through the first five rotations for his one chance. He hit it out of the park, clinched the bronze medal and in the process became a gymnastics folk hero of sorts. Social media blew up with memes about the “Pommel Horse Guy.” As great a moment as it was for Stephen and the team, it was even better for the sport of men’s gymnastics.