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Legendary ABC broadcaster Jim McKay introduced the TV show “Wide World of Sports” by promising viewers would see “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Those sensations and the images that accompany them apply to all sports, but “Wide World of Sports” featured contests beyond the major professional and college sports. More often than not, the show brought Olympic sports to the audience.
Here, the focus will be on “the thrill of victory.” Nothing captures the exhilaration of excelling at a chosen sport, the culmination of years of training and sacrifice, than the joy expressed at winning. The exuberation seen when an athlete or group of athletes have achieved the top award in their sports is as pure as we see in sports.
Take a look at the best photos of celebration from the first week of the Paris Olympics.
U.S. women’s gymnastics bounces back
Team USA called this “the redemption tour,” seeking to win gold after finishing as silver medalist in the Tokyo Games. That goal was accomplished in full, as the gymnasts showed in their celebration.
Simone Biles and teammates celebrate after Team USA won the artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Lionel Bonaventure/AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
France rallies for first women’s water polo win
France earned its first-ever win in women’s water polo, upsetting Italy 9–8 in group play. The team was down 7–6 going into the fourth quarter but rallied with three goals to seize the victory.
Team France’s Louise Guillet and Ema Vernoux celebrate their win over Team Italy on Day 3 of the 2024 Olympics at Aquatics Centre in Paris. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Britain’s Adam Burgess gets to the medal podium
In the canoe singles final, Great Britain’s Adam Burgess won silver. The victory may have been even sweeter for Burgess after he finished 0.16 seconds away from medaling at the Tokyo Games.
Silver medallist Britain’s Adam Burgess (C) celebrates on the posium during the medal ceremony after the men’s canoe single final of the canoe slalom competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Australia women’s rugby sevents nearly feels the thrill of victory
Australia lost out on a medal in women’s rugby sevens. However, they built a 12–0 lead over Canada before falling 21–12 in the semifinals. That was followed by an upset loss to the United States in the bronze medal match.
Australia’s Sariah Paki (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the women’s semi-final rugby sevens match between Canada and Australia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 30, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
USA men’s gymnastics triumphant
The U.S. men’s gymnastics team hadn’t won an Olympic medal since 2008. But the quartet held on to earn bronze, beginning with Paul Juda scoring 13.900 on the pommel horse.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 29: Paul Juda of Team United States celebrates after his routine on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
South Korea hits target in women’s team archery
South Korea won its 10th consecutive gold medal in women’s team archery, besting China in a margin so close that a magnifying glass was required to determine the final result.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 29: Je Deok Kim, Woojin Kim and Wooseok Lee of Team Republic of Korea celebrate winning the gold medals after competing in the Archery Men’s Team Gold Medal match against Team France on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Esplanade Des Invalides on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Brazil’s Jessica Quintano scores in women’s handball
In Brazil’s second match in women’s handball group play, Brazil’s Jessica Quintino scored a goal versus France. But the host country eventually won, 26–20.
Brazil’s right wing #10 Jessica Quintino celebrates after scoring during the Women’s Preliminary Round Group B handball match between France and Brazil of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Paris South Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Nick Itzin wins bronze in men’s fencing
After losing to Italy’s Filippo Macchi in the semifinal, USA men’s fencer Nick Itzin was determined not to lose two matches in a row. He’s the first U.S. men’s fencer to medal since 2016.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 29: Nick Itkin of Team United States celebrates victory in the Men’s Foil Individual Table of 8 match between Guillaume Bianchi of Team Italy and Nick Itkin of Team United States on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Poland wins first medal in women’s epee fencing
Poland won bronze in the women’s team epee fencing competition, winning a medal in the event for the first time in the country’s history. Aleksandra Jarecka scored the winning touch to put Poland on the podium.
Poland’s Aleksandra Jarecka and teammates celebrate after winning against Team China in the women’s epee team bronze medal bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
France wins bronze in women’s judo
Sarah-Léonie Cysique medaled for her home country in women’s judo -57 kg, defeating Georgia’s Eteri Lipartelian to win bronze. Cysique won silver at the Tokyo Games.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 29: Sarah Leonie Cysique of Team France celebrates winning bronze against Eteri Liparteliani of Team Georgia following the Judo Women’s -57 kg Bronze Medal contest on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Champs-de-Mars Arena on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
France defeats Poland in women’s epee fencing
France’s women’s epee fencing team nearly won gold in its home country, but fell to Italy. To compete for gold, however, the team had to beat Poland in the semifinal. Coraline Vitalis shows her exhilaration after the victory.
France’s team members including France’s Coraline Vitalis (2ndL) celebrate after winning in the women’s epee team semi-final bout between Poland and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Egypt’s Abdelrahman Hussein Tolba leaps after victory
Egypt’s Abdelrahman Hussein Tolba won his first match in men’s individual foil, defeating Hungary’s Daniel Dosa. His leaping celebration was made to be photographed.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 29: Abdelrahman Hussein Tolba of Team Egypt celebrates his victory against Daniel Dosa of Team Hungary (not pictured) in the Fencing Men’s Foil Individual Table of 32 on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Team Japan exuberant after winning men’s team gymnastics gold
China appeared poised to win gold in the men’s team gymnastics final. However, Japan capitalized on costly mistakes by the Chinese gymnasts to win its eighth gold medal in the event.
Team Japan celebrates after winning the gold medal in the artistic gymnastics men’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Britain’s Nathan Hales sets Olympic record in trap shooting
Great Britain’s Nathan Hales performed better than anyone ever had in Olympic trap shooting, hitting 48 of 50 shots to win gold. He now holds the Olympic and world records in the event.
Britain’s Nathan Hales celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Trap men’s final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles is the picture of confidence
Simone Biles is the face of U.S. women’s gymnastics, but Jordan Chiles’ confident performance on the uneven bars and floor routine was a key part of the team winning gold.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Jordan Chiles of the United States reacts after performing on the uneven bars the Women’s Team Artistic Gymnastics Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) (Steve Christo – Corbis via Getty Images)
Serbia wins first Olympic medal in air pistol shooting
Serbia’s first medal of the Paris Olympics was also its first medal in any shooting competition. Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec won gold on their final two shots.
Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic and Serbia’s Mikec Damir celebrate after winning the shooting 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Slovenia’s Andreja Leski wins gold in women’s judo
Slovenia’s Andreja Leski made her Olympic debut count, winning gold in women’s judo -63 kg over Prisca Awiti Alcaraz of Mexico. In the semifinal, she defeated reigning Olympic champion Clarisse Agbegnenou of France.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Gold medalist Andreja Leski of Team Slovenia (L) celebrates with bronze medalist Clarisse Agbegnenou of Team France during the Women’s Judo Women -63 kg medal ceremony on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Champs-de-Mars Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
France’s Sara Balzer tearful after winning in women’s sabre
If there was any question as to how meaningful winning a medal was for French sabre fencer Sara Balzer, the tears she shed after advancing through the quarterfinals provided an emotional answer. Balzer eventually won silver, losing to teammate Manon Apithy-Brunet.
France’s Sara Balzer celebrates after winning against Hungary’s Luca Virag Szucs in the women’s sabre individual quarter-final bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
France dominates women’s sabre
As mentioned above, Manon Apithy-Brunet defeated fellow Frenchwoman Sara Balzer to win gold in women’s sabre. But camera captured her emotion after she bested South Korea’s Choi Se-bin in the semifinals.
France’s Manon Apithy-Brunet (R) celebrates after winning against South Korea’s Choi Se-bin in the women’s sabre individual semi-final bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
Frederick Richard’s iconic celebration in men’s gymnastics
U.S men’s gymnast Frederick Richard might have provided the iconic moment for the United States at the Paris Olympics, landing a perfect dismount from the horizontal bar and taking in the moment as the audience at Barcy Arena erupted in cheers.
Paris , France – 29 July 2024; Frederick Richard of Team USA celebrates after the horizontal bars during the men’s team final at the Gymnastics Bercy Arena during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images) (Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Adam Burgess’ jubilation recorded for posterity
Great Britain’s Adam Burgess will surely be grateful that his moment of joy was so wonderfully captured by photographers after he won silver in canoe slalom singles. Rebounding from the pain of missing the podium by 0.16 seconds at the Tokyo Games was surely meaningful.
Britain’s Adam Burgess celebrates after competing in the men’s canoe single final of the canoe slalom competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) (AFP via Getty Images)
A closer look at Aleksandra Jarecka’s winning moment for Poland
As shown above, Aleksandra Jarecka scored the winning touch to earn Poland a bronze medal. While the previous photo showed her teammates celebrating with her, Jarecka was also photographed individually in triumph.
Aleksandra Jarecka, is celebrating victory after the bronze medal match in women’s 11 rowing between the Polish national team and the Chinese national team on day four of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palaison on 30 July 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Canada advances to gold medal match in women’s rugby sevens
Earlier, we saw Australia celebrating after scoring in women’s rugby sevens versus Canada. But the Canadians eventually won the semifinal match and here is the team sharing their joy after advancing to the play for gold.
Members of the Canadian team celebrate after winning the women’s semifinal Rugby Sevens match between Canada and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Canada won the game 21-12. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
More joy from Poland’s Aleksandra Jarecka
Aleksandra Jarecka might be the portrait of triumph at the Paris Olympics, considering how many times she’s been featured here. So many memorable images were captured as she clinched a bronze medal for Poland in women’s team epee fencing.
Poland’s Aleksandra Jarecka, right, celebrates with teammates after winning the women’s team Epee bronze final match against China’s Yu Sihan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
