Paris closed out its memorable Olympic Games on Sunday with a dazzling closing ceremony at the Stade de France, celebrating what many have hailed as one of the greatest editions of the Olympics ever held. The event drew a crowd of approximately 71,500 spectators and featured performances from around 270 artists, with around 9,000 athletes marching into the arena.
The ceremony kicked off with France’s swimming champion, Léon Marchand, who collected the Olympic flame from the Parisian cauldron, marking the start of its journey to the Stade de France. The grand finale also included a segment showcasing the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, with Hollywood star Tom Cruise set to feature in a preview of the 2028 Games.
The closing ceremony capped off 17 days of remarkable sporting achievements set against Paris’s iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Château de Versailles. In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony on the River Seine, the closing ceremony enjoyed clear skies as the sun set over the French capital.
On the final day of competition, the United States narrowly edged out China in the gold medal tally, with the US women’s basketball team clinching the last gold medal of the Games by defeating France 67-66. This victory marked the eighth consecutive Olympic title for the US women’s basketball team. Both the US and China finished with 40 gold medals, but the US led the overall medal count with 126 medals to China’s 91.
The day’s highlight was the women’s marathon, where Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan achieved an extraordinary feat by winning gold in a record time of 2 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds. Hassan, who competed in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon events, made a dramatic sprint finish to overtake Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa.
Other notable victories included Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas winning gold in the modern pentathlon, and China’s Li Wenwen in weightlifting. In track cycling, Dutch cyclist Harrie Lavreysen triumphed in the men’s keirin for his third gold of the Games, while New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews claimed the women’s sprint title. The men’s water polo final saw Serbia secure their third consecutive Olympic gold with a 13-11 win over Croatia.
As Paris bid farewell to the Olympics, the city’s vibrant and successful hosting of the Games was celebrated in a spectacular closing ceremony, setting the stage for the next chapter in Olympic history with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
