FOR just over two weeks the world watched in awe as athletes did what they'd trained for years to do: go faster, soar higher and be stronger than everyone else.
And what a spectacle it was. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the camaraderie of competition, the sheer spectacle of performance at its peak - all this and more went down in Paris.
The City of Lights pulled out all the stops, living up to its motto of "Games Wide Open" by taking sports into the streets, across the countryside and into suburbs.
More than 10 000 athletes in 32 disciplines took part - and as we get used to the fact that it's all over until Los Angeles 2028, we look back at the extravaganza that had us glued to our screens. As one commentator put it, "If it could last forever it wouldn't be special."
TATJANA SMITH
Our golden girl won gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke, becoming the most-decorated South African Olympian of all time.
The 27-year-old Joburger announced her retirement after the 200m swim, exiting the world stage on the ultimate high.
"I'm just grateful to have the opportunity to end off my career in this way,' she said.
"I'm excited to in the future tell my kids I used to swim there [at the Olympics] once.
I'm just grateful that I can walk away with medals. It's any athlete's dream"
SIMONE BILES
The pint-sized powerhouse proved she was the greatest gymnast the world has ever seen when she won four medals - three gold and a silver to bring her Olympic medal tally to 11.
Simone (27) put the drama of the Tokyo Games-where she crashed out after experiencing the "twisties"-behind her and turned on the razzle dazzle in a gruelling competition.
"To see where I've grown from Tokyo and even the 19-year-old from Rio is amazing" she said.
"I'm proud of myself for putting in the work and never giving up"
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BALLON IN THE BAG
Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football
IT WAS ALL A LIE
A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country
AGREE TO DISAGREE
Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book
PAUSE THE CLOCK
Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down
MPOOMY ON TOP
We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court
MATT THE RECLUSE
A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight
A LEAP OF FAITH
After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it
