10 Arab moments to remember from the Paris 2024 Olympics

DUBAI: Athletes representing Arab countries claimed an unprecedented seven gold medals during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which came to an end on Sunday with a spectacular closing ceremony at Stade de France.

The Arab contingent in Paris provided many memorable moments and not only from those who ended up on the podium; some of the near misses were just as inspiring.

We got to see Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam take part in the heat of his life during the third round of the competition, against Brazil’s Joao Chianca, scoring a huge 9.70 on one of his waves yet still make a tearful exit from the competition.

There was also heartbreak for Jordan’s Rama Abo-Alrub, who came ever so close to defeating top-seeded Nafia Kus Aydin in the quarter-finals of the taekwondo +67kg. The 23-year-old’s tears were incredibly moving and showed the depth of her belief that she could have posted an upset.

In the pool, Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi just missed out on the podium in the 800 meters, placing fourth among a stacked field. The 19-year-old impressed in all three distances he swam and will no doubt be one to watch in the future.

Before we officially bid farewell to the Paris Olympics, here are 10 particularly special moments that featured Arab athletes during the 2024 Games.