The Paris 2024 Olympics have concluded, marking the end of two weeks that showcased the Japanese team's brilliant performance. In these Games, Japan achieved its best-ever result in an overseas Olympics, winning 18 gold medals and a total of 43 medals. This remarkable feat surpasses the 16 golds from the 2004 Athens Games and the total of 41 medals from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Courtesy of Paris 2024
Medal Rush and the Birth of New Heroes
On the final day of the Games, Haruka Kitaguchi won gold in the women's javelin throw, marking the first-ever field event gold medal for a Japanese woman. Additionally, Sakura Motoki clinched gold in the women's 62kg wrestling category, adding a final flourish to Japan's medal rush. Looking at gold medals by sport, wrestling led with 6, followed by gymnastics and judo with 3 each. Notably, skateboarding and fencing each secured 2 gold medals, with fencing's breakthrough becoming a major talking point of these Games. Breaking and athletics also secured one gold medal each.
The Japanese team's success in these Games is noteworthy not just for the medal count, but also for its content. Particularly remarkable was the emergence of new heroes and performances that defied expectations. For instance, 25-year-old Yuto Horigome won his second consecutive gold medal in men's street skateboarding, highlighting the rise of the younger generation. In judo, the Abe siblings, Hifumi and Uta, won gold and silver medals respectively. Furthermore, Koki Kano's gold medal in fencing epee demonstrated Japan's new strength to the world. These achievements have breathed new life into Japanese sports, inspiring dreams and hope in the next generation of athletes.
Innovation and Environmental Consciousness: Paris 2024's New Challenges
The Paris 2024 Games were also a great success as a sporting festival. Over 9.5 million tickets were purchased from 222 countries, with a single-day attendance record of 743,000 spectators on July 30. Notably, the women's rugby sevens match drew 66,000 spectators, setting a new world record. In terms of event management, Paris 2024 achieved numerous "firsts." It was the first Games to achieve gender equality, the first to hold an opening ceremony outside a stadium, and introduced innovative initiatives such as the "Marathon for All" for general participants. The Games also emphasized environmental considerations, aiming to halve carbon emissions compared to previous Olympics.
The Japanese team's success in these Games is believed to be greatly influenced by their experience and confidence gained from the Tokyo 2020 Games. Building on their impressive performance of 27 gold medals and 58 total medals on home soil, they demonstrated their capabilities admirably on foreign ground. This performance will undoubtedly be a great encouragement for the entire Japanese sports community. Particularly noteworthy is the progress made not only in traditionally strong disciplines but also in new areas such as fencing, highlighting the diversity and potential of Japanese sports.
The Paris 2024 Games succeeded not only as a sporting event but also as a comprehensive event incorporating cultural and environmental initiatives. Combined with the stellar performance of the Japanese team, these Games have inspired many people and raised expectations for the next Olympics.
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