Cuban wrestler Mijaín López, the only athlete in history to win five Olympic golds in the same event following his victory in wrestling at Paris 2024, was the representative of the athletes from America at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Alongside the Cuban, the main stage of this closing gala held at the Stade de France in Paris featured boxer Cindy Ngamba (EOR), a bronze medalist and representative of the Refugee Olympic Team; and table tennis player Sun Yingsha (CHN), who holds three gold medals and two silver medals, representing Asia.
Another female athlete was swimmer Emma McKeon (AUS), who, with her six gold medals, three silver, and five bronze, represented Oceania.
For Africa, the chosen one was marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), who holds two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the honor went to judoka Teddy Riner (FRA), with five gold medals and two bronze medals throughout his career.
The six athletes took the stage after a speech by Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee.
The speech of the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, followed, in which he referenced the various conflicts around the world and highlighted the Olympic values of athletes who compete, but only in a sporting manner.
"The Olympic Games can create a culture of peace. I invite you to live this culture of peace every day," he expressed.
"His performances were incredible. They competed fiercely against each other. Each competition was on the brink of perfection. Each performance generated excitement around the world. They showed us the greatness that we humans are capable of," he stated.
In addition, the six athletes extinguished the Olympic flame alongside French swimmer Léon Marchand, who had brought the flame from the Olympic cauldron and entered it into the Stade de France.
In this ceremony, the Olympic flag was passed from the hands of the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, and then to the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, to start the countdown to the 2028 Olympic Games.
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