Simon Drouin
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Simon Drouin in Paris
The highlight of the Games I attended
Just as Maude Charron is getting the silver medal around her neck. Oddly enough, the lenses of my binoculars have become foggy. As has Léon Marchand’s double.
The surprise
The men’s 4x100m, which I watched on a bad screen in the mixed zone. I hesitated to sprint towards the press box for fear of missing the relay girls… who were watching the race. Otherwise, Mary-Sophie Harvey’s fourth place in the 200m freestyle. I didn’t miss a single iota of that one, including the reaction of her coach Greg Arkhurst.
The most beautiful competition site
The swimming pool or the Stade de France? That’s about all I’ve seen of Paris. Spectacular development at Paris La Défense Arena to see a swimming competition – and one of the best swimmers in history in Leon 1er. I loved the Stade de France, for its airy architecture and the astonishing ease of entering and exiting it among tens of thousands of spectators, even in the security context that one can imagine.
The most outstanding athlete
Léon Marchand made me love it, as he liked to rehearse when he got out of the pool. Yes, with his amazing technique and his prodigious flows, but especially with his attitude so relaxed, open and funny. Something to think about for sports psychologists and their famous bubble.
The most fun sport to cover
Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis clearing 6.25m in a Stade de France in communion, I will never forget that. Shivers all the way to my toes.
The disappointment
Cycling for the whole body of work, the expeditious exit of boxer Tammara Thibeault, who had dominated since Tokyo, and, to a lesser extent because of Christa Deguchi’s historic gold, judo and the inability to go for at least one more fight for a medal. With the squad in place, this should not have happened.
What these Games will be remembered for in 30 years
At first glance, I would tend to think of Summer McIntosh’s four individual medals, but I have the impression that she will have better Olympics in 2028 and 2032. I therefore choose the 4×100 m relay in athletics, just as we have not forgotten the gold in Atlanta won in the same event almost… 30 years ago.
Alexander Pratt
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Alexandre Pratt (with cap) in Paris
The highlight of the Games I attended
The men’s 100m final, where a photo finish was needed to decide the top seven runners. The gap between Noah Lyles (gold) and Kishane Thompson (silver) was only five thousandths of a second!
The surprise
The Canadians’ victory in the 4×100 metres was not on my bingo card.
The most beautiful competition site
The streets of central Paris during the road race. From an attack on the Butte Montmartre to the finish at Trocadéro, not to mention a flat tire in front of the Louvre, it was an extraordinary competition setting.
The most outstanding athlete
Considering the pressure he had swimming in front of his own, the Frenchman Leon Marchand, with four gold medals and one bronze.
The most fun sport to cover
Tennis at Roland Garros was a dream coverage, in inspiring facilities. Weightlifting – which I saw in person for the first time – also appealed to me.
The disappointment
Canada Soccer’s spy scandal: Coaches tarnished their players’ Olympic experience by trying to illegally obtain information on the 28e world team. Totally unnecessary.
What these Games will be remembered for in 30 years
From the return to the stage of Celine Dion, who sings with emotion theHymn to love in the Eiffel Tower, in the rain, while the illuminated balloon rises above the Tuileries Gardens.
Olivier Jean
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Olivier Jean
The highlight of the Games I attended
Weightlifter Maude Charron’s silver medal moved me deeply. Meeting her at her home before the Games, and then seeing her again after her competition, beaming and relieved, was a defining moment. Similarly, French swimmer Léon Marchand’s first medal was a highlight, with the crowd singing the national anthem before his departure, adding a special intensity to the moment.
The surprise
After several evenings covering athletics at the Stade de France and following the performances of the Canadian sprinters, their medal in the relay was particularly striking.
The most beautiful competition site
The Saint-Denis Pleyel metro station, on the way to the Stade de France, is an exceptional place. However, the triathlon finish line on the Pont Alexandre III, with Les Invalides in the background, is simply sublime.
The most outstanding athlete
Once again, weightlifter Maude Charron shone, while Saint Lucia sprinter Julien Alfred won her country’s first medal, narrowly missing second place.
The most fun sport to cover
Water polo, with its intensity, as well as the women’s pole vault competition provide captivating moments.
The disappointment
Not having the chance to photograph the road bike race was disappointing. Seeing the packed crowds lining the course on the streets of Paris made for a beautiful scene.
What these Games will be remembered for in 30 years
The conditions in which we covered the opening ceremony were memorable. After being held up for an hour in a shuttle by the French police on the way to my photography position, the next seven hours of waiting in the rain will remain etched in my memory as one of the worst experiences of covering. Despite everything, I have fond memories of it.
Katherine Harvey-Pinard
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Katherine Harvey-Pinard (top, center) in Paris
The highlight of the Games I attended
Simone Biles’ second gold medal, the one she won in the all-around competition. All the gymnasts had finished their routines on the other apparatus when the American star performed hers on the floor. The atmosphere was electric in the Arena Bercy when her score was announced and she was crowned champion. An absolutely sublime moment.
The surprise
The silver medal for the Canadian rugby team. And I was lucky enough to be there.
The most beautiful competition site
The magnificent Stade de France. Every time I went there, it was packed. And what about the purple athletics track. I loved everything about it.
The most outstanding athlete
Leon Marchand, who else? I didn’t have the opportunity to cover one of his races, but people were only talking about him here in Paris. What an athlete!
The most fun sport to cover
I had never covered gymnastics before these Games, but I fell in love. There is never a dull moment; simultaneously on each apparatus, the athletes work magic. The strength, the flexibility, the balance, the coordination… Their feats left me speechless.
The disappointment
Boxer Tammara Thibeault’s defeat in her first fight. I would have liked to cover her journey. Bad day at the office for the Quebecer. I hope she takes the time she needs to get back on her feet.
What these Games will be remembered for in 30 years
We will remember the breathtaking competition venues in legendary French locations. And the sensational performances of Léon Marchand, Summer McIntosh and Simone Biles.
Nicholas Richard
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Nicholas Richard in Paris
The highlight of the Games I attended
It is impossible to write anything other than the triumph of Léon Marchand in the 200-meter medley at the Paris La Défense Arena swimming pool. Before my eyes, the 22-year-old swimmer achieved a feat that no other French athlete had done before him: winning four gold medals at the same Games. I have never been in such a noisy place. The cheers of the crowd became a long, shrill cry in the final meters. Memorable.
The surprise
I will highlight here the passion of the French people for their heroes. I knew the French were good-natured and football lovers. But I did not know how much they knew about a bunch of other disciplines. From the most obscure athletes to the most popular, French supporters neglected no one. In judo, as in fencing and triathlon, our cousins were proud to encourage their own as if they were all wearing the PSG jersey.
The most beautiful competition site
There are so many choices. It’s complicated. I hesitated for a long time between the Grand Palais, where the fencing and taekwondo competitions took place, and the triathlon course on the Pont Alexandre III. But I chose the beach volleyball court. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in the heart of Paris on the Champ-de-Mars, this now iconic stadium was a must-see during these Games, especially in the evening.
The most outstanding athlete
Only one possible answer: Léon Marchand. On television, on the front pages of newspapers, on social media, on highway signs, everyone was obsessed with King Léon. A true global revelation, these Games will remain in people’s memories. The swimmer has become a legend. The French have found their Michael Phelps. Marchand has become the face of this Olympic fortnight and he will be the bearer of hope for his compatriots in Los Angeles and Brisbane, in 2028 and 2032.
The most fun sport to cover
I really fell in love with fencing. First, the venue had something to do with it. The Grand Palais was majestic. Then, I had perhaps underestimated the intensity of this sport. The strategy and endurance required to beat an opponent are admirable. Things happen quickly, and since there were four duels at once, there was never a lack of action. Obviously, since it is the sport in which France has won the most medals in Olympic history, the atmosphere was extraordinary.
The disappointment
I had high expectations for the Canadian track cycling team. Partly because I was assigned to cover them and it’s pretty cool to write about medallists. Partly because Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell had both won medals in Tokyo. However, they didn’t even manage to challenge for a podium, eliminated in all three of their events in the qualifying rounds. No one would have bet on that going into the Games.
What these Games will be remembered for in 30 years
On a personal level, when people around me talk about the greatest athletes in Canadian history and Summer McIntosh’s name comes up, I can boast about having seen her perform and having spoken to her at least once. More generally, we will certainly remember the American basketball team, the Avengers, which brought together the best players of my generation. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant… Certainly one of the most legendary teams in the history of sport.