The 2024 Paris Olympics set the stage for some of the world’s smaller nations to stand tall alongside established global sports giants.
Despite relatively small populations and resources, a few nations punched above their weight. Their athletes defied the odds to win medals and etch their names in the record books.
Ireland’s Record-Breaking Success in Paris
The 2024 Paris Olympics was unforgettable for the Republic of Ireland, with the nation winning gold in swimming, rowing, gymnastics and boxing.
Swimmer Daniel Wiffen followed his world title win in February with another incredible showing in the men’s 800 metres freestyle.
He brought home the first gold medal as he held off Bobby Finke to win by 0.56 seconds, setting a new Olympic record. He also claimed bronze in the 1,500m freestyle event.
Irish rowers Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan defended their lightweight double sculls title from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with another dominant showing.
Rhys McClenaghan was another Irish history maker in Paris as he won gold in the men’s pommel horse. The 25-year-old was flawless as he edged out Kazakhstan gymnast Nariman Kurbanov.
Dublin boxing legend Kellie Harrington defended her title in the women’s 60kg event to become the first Irish woman to win successive Olympic golds.
After an uneventful start in the final, the 34-year-old outboxed Yang Wenlu of China, using nasty body shots and her famously snappy jabs to win by a split decision.
Her thrilling success was a costly one for bookmakers in Ireland, with punters in clover after wagering heavily on her to win gold.
Several betting sites reported making sizeable payouts to Irish bettors, making Harrington an even bigger hero with her adoring fans on the Emerald Isle.
The excitement of the Olympics led to increased betting activity in Ireland across several sports, highlighting how fans there are willing to back their compatriots.
Kenya Dominates the African Medal Table
Kenya continued to assert their dominance in athletics at the Paris 2024 games, coming only second to the United States in track and field events.
No African country won more medals than Kenya. Four golds, two silvers and five bronze medals placed Kenya 17th in the overall standings ahead of wealthier and larger nations.
Kenya’s middle and long-distance runners continued to prove their mettle on the world stage, and the women refused to be left out of the winning party.
Faith Kipyegon was one of the standout performers for the East Africans. The 30-year-old showed no weakness as she claimed Olympic 1,500m gold to become the first woman in history to win the event three times on the spin.
Following her 2016 and 2020 victories, she delivered a tactical masterclass at the Stade de France to set a new Olympic record.
Kipyegon also won silver at the 5,000m event, with compatriot Beatrice Chebet claiming the gold. Chebet took the gold in the 10,000m race.
Kenya’s success highlights the need for the sports authorities to prioritise investment in women’s athletics, expanding their support beyond the male-dominated spheres.
New Zealand Put Themselves on the Olympic Map
New Zealand delivered a spectacular performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The nation of just over five million people finished 11th on the medal board.
The Kiwis clinched ten gold medals and 20 medals overall. New Zealand was one of the top-performing countries per capita, with one medal for every 258,000 people. The women played a central role, winning 14 of the 20 medals, including eight golds.
The Black Ferns set the tone and secured the first gold at the women’s rugby sevens. It was their third rugby sevens Olympic medal.
Kayaker Lisa Carrington established herself as arguably New Zealand’s greatest Olympian, adding three more golds to the five she had won from previous events.
Since debuting in the 2012 London Olympics, Carrington has been involved in almost one-third of the golds New Zealand have accrued in that timeframe.
Hamish Kerr also brought home the gold from the men’s high jump after his dramatic jump-off with Shelby McEwen.
McEwen could have shared gold with his Kiwi counterpart but insisted on a jump-off, which Kerr won much to the delight of the many people disgusted by the American’s unsportsmanlike behaviour.
