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Women are dominating the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Team USA, they are taking home significantly more medals than the men and more than double the amount of golds, thanks to some history-making moments from Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles.
Female athletes are winning off the podium too—by showing up for, speaking out in support of, and fangirling over each other—no matter the country, game, or score. At a time when the whole world feels divided on almost everything, watching rivals become BFFs reminds us of the healing power of good sportsmanship—and what women are capable of achieving when they are not being pitted against each other.
Maybe it’s the magic of brat summer, or the fact that a woman is running for the United States’ highest political office. Whatever it is, Girlympics is in full force—and the femininomenon shows no signs of slowing down. Below, five gold medal-worthy moments of women supporting women at the Paris Games.
Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles Celebrating Rebeca Andrade’s Gold Medal
Team USA gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles literally bowed down to their competition, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, after she won gold in the floor final. Biles took home silver, and Chiles earned a bronze medal. After the final scores were announced, Biles walked over to Andrade and gave her a high-five and a hug. “She’s so amazing. She’s queen,” Biles said of Andrade, per CNN. “It was an all-Black podium, so that was super exciting for us. But then Jordan was like, ‘Should we bow to her?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’” Chiles also sang Andrade’s praises. “You know, she’s an icon, a legend herself,” she said. “So I feel like being recognized is what everybody should do when it comes to somebody who’s put in the work, put in the dedication.”
Michaela Blyde Meeting Her Idol Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
They say never meet your heroes… Unless your hero is Jamaican track star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. New Zealand rugby player Michaela Blyde could hardly contain her excitement after Fraser-Pryce followed her on Instagram and commented on her video asking if they could be friends. Eventually, Blyde’s teammates helped coordinate a meeting between the two, which was also documented on social media. A sweet clip shows Blyde running barefoot through the Olympic village to hug Fraser-Pryce, who greeted her with open arms. “I just met my idol,” Blyde captioned the post.
Silina Pha Aphay Tending to Lucia Moris on the Track
It was heartbreaking to watch: South Sudan sprinter Lucia Moris fell to the ground during a preliminary heat of the women’s 100-meter dash, unable to stand up. But before doctors could arrive, Laos runner Silina Pha Aphay rushed to her side. Pha Aphay called out for help, as Moris lay on the track, crying and clutching her right leg in pain. She stayed by her side until medics arrived, holding Moris’ running shoes while she was transferred to a stretcher. “All 100-meter athletes have to know how being hurt feels,” Pha Aphay told the Washington Post. “This is a big competition, it’s a big dream to come here.”
Lindsey Horan Giving Saki Kumagai a Hug
The U.S. Women’s National Team is off to a very strong start in Paris. On Saturday, they beat Japan, scoring a spot in the semifinals. After the defeat, several Japanese players cried, and Team USA captain Lindsey Horan quickly ran over to embrace a devastated Saki Kumagai.
Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus Holding Hands in Victory
American swimmer Katie Ledecky successfully defended her Olympic title in the women’s 800-meter freestyle for the fourth straight time. She finished more than a second ahead of Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who won silver. After the race, Ledecky and Titmus reached out across their lanes to hold up their hands in victory. “After the race, I told Ariarne that thank you for making me better,” Ledecky said after the race. “We bring the best out of each other and knowing that you have to step up and race somebody like her at these meets definitely pushes you in training every day.” Titmus has previously described Ledecky as one of her heroes. “You know, she’s made me a better athlete,” Titmus said. “I totally respect what she has done in this sport more than anyone else.”
Rose is the Senior Editor of Features & Special Projects at ELLE.com overseeing features and projects about women’s issues. She is an accomplished and compassionate storyteller and editor who excels in obtaining exclusive interviews and unearthing compelling features.