Photos show the biggest moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics

Talia LakritzAug 22, 2024, 00:32 IST

Gabrielle Thomas of Team USA, center, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Steph Chambers/Getty Images<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2024 Paris Olympics were held from July 26 to August 11.</li><li>Getty Images photographers captured memorable moments across competitions.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-olympics-medals-eiffel-tower-2024-7">2024 Paris Olympics</a> concluded on August 11 after 19 days of sporting events.Athletes from 206 territories competed in a range of disciplines, resulting in come-from-behind victories, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-olympics-best-photos-viral-2024-8">viral moments</a>, and <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympic-paris-records-you-missed-2024-8">world records</a>.In an email to Business Insider, Getty Images photographers shared the stories behind some of the iconic photos they took at the Paris Olympics.Here are some of the biggest moments from the 2024 Olympic Games, narrated by the photographers who captured them.

On the first day of the Olympics, Michael Reaves photographed Peter Spens, an artist commissioned to paint volleyball matches.

Artist Peter Spens at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Robert Cianflone photographed the US women's soccer team celebrating after winning gold against Brazil.

The US women's soccer team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Patrick Smith found an angle above the field to photograph the first round of the women's 100-meter race "with the light just perfect," he said.

The first round of the women's 100-meter race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Jamie Squire's photo from the women's team gymnastics final shows Jordan Chiles competing on the balance beam.

Jordan Chiles of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Tim de Waele positioned himself perfectly to photograph the women's road race passing by the Louvre.

The women's road race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Cameron Spencer captured an impressive maneuver during a women's rugby match.

Erin King and Emily Lane of Ireland and Lauren Torley of Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Al Bello spent two days getting the lighting just right to photograph men's fencing at the Grand Palais.

Men's fencing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Al Bello/Getty Images

Smith took this photo of Tara Davis-Woodhall in the women's long-jump final with a remote camera set up by the sand pit.

Tara Davis-Woodhall of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Steph Chambers waited until the Olympic logo was visible on a table-tennis ball to photograph the North Korean player Kum Yong Kim.

Kum Yong Kim of North Korea at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Steph Chambers/Getty Images

It took a team of photographers to capture the Turkish volleyball player Eda Erdem from above.

Women's volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Getty Images photographers projected photos on buildings throughout Paris during the Olympics, including one of the American track star Noah Lyles winning gold.

A Getty Images project called Parisienne Projections displayed iconic Olympic photos throughout Paris.Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Another Parisienne Projections display showed Simone Biles competing on the uneven bars.

A photo of Simone Biles competing on the uneven bars projected as part of Parisienne Projections in Montmartre.Carmen Mandato/Getty Images Europe

In this composite image, part of a series titled "Layers of the Games," Hector Vivas layered key moments from a men's soccer match between Paraguay and Mali.

Paraguay's and Mali's men's soccer teams competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Alex Pantling captured Argentina's Agustin Mazzilli and Australia's Eddie Ockenden battling for the ball during a men's field-hockey match.

Agustin Mazzilli of Argentina and Eddie Ockenden of Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Alex Pantling/Getty Images

This image of the US equestrian Elisabeth Halliday competing at the Palace of Versailles embodies everything the photographer Buda Mendes loves about the Olympics.

Elisabeth Halliday and her horse, Nutcracker, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Justin Setterfield photographed kayak cross, a new Olympic event where kayakers race four at a time.

Noemie Fox of Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The photographer Elsa had a feeling that Biles and Chiles would do something special during the floor-exercise medal ceremony where the Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won gold.

Biles, Rebeca Andrade, and Chiles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Elsa/Getty Images

The photographer Elsa had a feeling that Biles and Chiles would do something special during the floor-exercise medal ceremony where the Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won gold.

Spencer said this shot of Lyles crossing the finish line to win the gold medal was "premeditated."

Lyles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ezra Shaw found that it was worth arriving early to photograph Olympic events with this image of the French skateboarder Emilie Alexandre.

Emilie Alexandre at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Rob Carr used a robotic camera above the men's wrestling ring to capture Mohammadhadi Saravi of Iran's ecstatic backflips upon winning gold.

Mohammadhadi Saravi at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Rob Carr/Getty Images

Sometimes Olympic photographers capture devastating moments, like Michelle Jenneke's fall in the women's 100-meter hurdles.

Michelle Jenneke of Australia, third from the right, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Lars Baron spent long days sitting on the floor to get the best angles while photographing men's handball.

Thomas Arnoldsen of Denmark with Richárd Bodó and Bence Bánhidi of Hungary at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Lars Baron/Getty Images

David Ramos described the men's road race as "one of the best days of cycling I have ever covered."

The men's road race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.David Ramos/Getty Images

Alex Broadway photographed racers in the BMX racing semifinals as the competition began.

The BMX racing semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Alex Broadway/Getty Images

Chambers photographed the US runner Gabrielle Thomas realizing she won gold in the women's 200-meter final.

Gabrielle Thomas of Team USA, center, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Richard Pelham said he couldn't have asked for a more "perfectly timed punch" at an Olympic boxing match.

Wyatt Sanford of Canada in a preliminary-round boxing match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Richard Pelham/Getty Images

"Poise, beauty, intensity, and resolve are perfect adjectives to describe this legend," Petersen said of photographing Biles.

Biles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Christian Petersen/Getty Images

For the women's individual triathlon, Michael Steele photographed the start, transition, and finish area around the Pont Alexandre III.

The women's individual triathlon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Michael Steele/Getty Images

Maddie Meyer captured Léon Marchand of France's gold-medal finish in the men's 200-meter breaststroke.

Léon Marchand of France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Carr used a robotic camera above a judo match to capture the South Korean competitor's disappointment with the result.

Rafael Macedo of Brazil and Juyeop Han of South Korea at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Rob Carr/Getty Images

Dan Mullan said this photo of Andrade on the vault was one of his favorite images from the Paris Olympics.

Andrade at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Phil Walter timed his photo perfectly to capture Australia's women's skiff team riding a wave in the Olympic sailing event.

Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine of Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Phil Walter/Getty Images

The Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus defeated the US's Katie Ledecky in the women's 400-meter freestyle, photographed by Adam Pretty.

Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine of Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Baron photographed skateboarding, a newer Olympic sport, in Paris.

Rayssa Leal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Lars Baron/Getty Images

Bello captured the joy of victory and the sting of defeat in this image from the men's foil individual final.

Filippo Macchi of Italy and Ka Long Cheung of Hong Kong at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Al Bello/Getty Images

Another "Layers of the Games" image taken by Vivas shows Eiffel Tower Stadium at sunset.

Beach volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Quinn Rooney used an underwater robotic camera to photograph divers at the women's synchronized springboard final.

Naïs Gillet and Juliette Landi of France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton sought the best angle to photograph the Olympic rings reflected in the Canadian cyclist Nick Wammes' visor.

Nick Wammes of Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Sean M. Haffey called photographing Olympic surfing events in Tahiti "a dream assignment."

Kauli Vaast of France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Squire's photo of Harry Hepworth shows the British gymnast mid-dismount during the men's qualification.

Harry Hepworth of Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In this photo by Clive Brunskill, the tennis legends Andy Murray and Dan Evans celebrated their win in the first round of men's doubles.

Dan Evans and Andy Murray of Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

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Photos show the biggest moments of the 2024 Paris Olympics

On the first day of the Olympics, Michael Reaves photographed Peter Spens, an artist commissioned to paint volleyball matches.

Robert Cianflone photographed the US women's soccer team celebrating after winning gold against Brazil.

Patrick Smith found an angle above the field to photograph the first round of the women's 100-meter race "with the light just perfect," he said.

Jamie Squire's photo from the women's team gymnastics final shows Jordan Chiles competing on the balance beam.

Tim de Waele positioned himself perfectly to photograph the women's road race passing by the Louvre.

Cameron Spencer captured an impressive maneuver during a women's rugby match.

Al Bello spent two days getting the lighting just right to photograph men's fencing at the Grand Palais.

Smith took this photo of Tara Davis-Woodhall in the women's long-jump final with a remote camera set up by the sand pit.

Steph Chambers waited until the Olympic logo was visible on a table-tennis ball to photograph the North Korean player Kum Yong Kim.

It took a team of photographers to capture the Turkish volleyball player Eda Erdem from above.

Getty Images photographers projected photos on buildings throughout Paris during the Olympics, including one of the American track star Noah Lyles winning gold.

Another Parisienne Projections display showed Simone Biles competing on the uneven bars.

In this composite image, part of a series titled "Layers of the Games," Hector Vivas layered key moments from a men's soccer match between Paraguay and Mali.

Alex Pantling captured Argentina's Agustin Mazzilli and Australia's Eddie Ockenden battling for the ball during a men's field-hockey match.

This image of the US equestrian Elisabeth Halliday competing at the Palace of Versailles embodies everything the photographer Buda Mendes loves about the Olympics.

Justin Setterfield photographed kayak cross, a new Olympic event where kayakers race four at a time.

The photographer Elsa had a feeling that Biles and Chiles would do something special during the floor-exercise medal ceremony where the Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won gold.

Spencer said this shot of Lyles crossing the finish line to win the gold medal was "premeditated."

Ezra Shaw found that it was worth arriving early to photograph Olympic events with this image of the French skateboarder Emilie Alexandre.

Rob Carr used a robotic camera above the men's wrestling ring to capture Mohammadhadi Saravi of Iran's ecstatic backflips upon winning gold.

Sometimes Olympic photographers capture devastating moments, like Michelle Jenneke's fall in the women's 100-meter hurdles.

Lars Baron spent long days sitting on the floor to get the best angles while photographing men's handball.

David Ramos described the men's road race as "one of the best days of cycling I have ever covered."

Alex Broadway photographed racers in the BMX racing semifinals as the competition began.

Chambers photographed the US runner Gabrielle Thomas realizing she won gold in the women's 200-meter final.

Richard Pelham said he couldn't have asked for a more "perfectly timed punch" at an Olympic boxing match.

"Poise, beauty, intensity, and resolve are perfect adjectives to describe this legend," Petersen said of photographing Biles.

For the women's individual triathlon, Michael Steele photographed the start, transition, and finish area around the Pont Alexandre III.

Maddie Meyer captured Léon Marchand of France's gold-medal finish in the men's 200-meter breaststroke.

Carr used a robotic camera above a judo match to capture the South Korean competitor's disappointment with the result.

Dan Mullan said this photo of Andrade on the vault was one of his favorite images from the Paris Olympics.

Phil Walter timed his photo perfectly to capture Australia's women's skiff team riding a wave in the Olympic sailing event.

The Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus defeated the US's Katie Ledecky in the women's 400-meter freestyle, photographed by Adam Pretty.

Baron photographed skateboarding, a newer Olympic sport, in Paris.

Bello captured the joy of victory and the sting of defeat in this image from the men's foil individual final.

Another "Layers of the Games" image taken by Vivas shows Eiffel Tower Stadium at sunset.

Quinn Rooney used an underwater robotic camera to photograph divers at the women's synchronized springboard final.

Jared C. Tilton sought the best angle to photograph the Olympic rings reflected in the Canadian cyclist Nick Wammes' visor.

Sean M. Haffey called photographing Olympic surfing events in Tahiti "a dream assignment."

Squire's photo of Harry Hepworth shows the British gymnast mid-dismount during the men's qualification.

In this photo by Clive Brunskill, the tennis legends Andy Murray and Dan Evans celebrated their win in the first round of men's doubles.