Memorable Moments from the Games in France
The 2024 Summer Olympics are over, and another two-plus weeks of thrilling competition and incredible athletic achievements have come to an end. Congratulations to the people of France for hosting an amazing Games!
Stars and Surprises: Celebrating Olympic Triumphs and Unexpected Heroes
I was mesmerized, as I am every four years, by the usual yet unique moments that make up the Olympics. The unsung heroes like Steve Nedoroscik, whose clutch pommel horse routine catapulted the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team to a Bronze medal and Steve to viral fame and endless memes. And the “sung” heroes—well-known athletes like Simone Biles and Steph Curry, who were already wildly successful in their sports, were expected to win, and did. They managed to do so in new and exciting ways, though.
Biles led the U.S. team to Gold and won the individual all-around against some of the toughest competitors she’s faced in a long time. The U.S. men faced intense competition as well, and Curry stepped up in games exactly when needed, culminating in an unbelievable 3-pointer in the Gold medal game that simply stunned.
The Marathon of Dreams
The Women’s Marathon featured both ends of the spectrum. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan added to her three medals from Tokyo with three golds in Paris, winning the 5,000, 10,000, and marathon events, and setting an Olympic record on a grueling course—a stunning achievement. Bhutan’s Kinzang Lhamo was the last runner to cross the finish line, more than an hour and a half later, but did so to a standing ovation. “It has always been one of my dreams to compete at such a stage. My first goal is to complete the marathon,” she said.
The Olympic Spirit and Business Leadership
While I watched as a fan, I couldn’t help but also see the Games through another lens—my staffing industry POV. Team events such as soccer or volleyball, or sports like swimming, running, and gymnastics, which have both team and individual competitions, reminded me of how building a great team is a challenge, both on and off the field. In a way, hiring the right people for your company is not that different from putting together a winning relay or gymnastics team.
Both require finding people with the right skills and expertise mixed with intangibles like a strong work ethic, positive attitude, honesty, and integrity. Some team members are specialists, there to do one thing well, while others have broader skill sets and are entered in multiple events. All the athletes need to be at their best and have the same commitment to training hard and preparing well. It’s not that different from what a company needs to be successful—the right mix of people pulling together toward a common goal. Leadership is key, whether you are managing a team of software developers or coaching the Olympic 4×100 meter relay team. I will likely never be an Olympic athlete, but I feel a little like a coach in my business life, whether it’s leading my team at ATR or watching how we help our clients build their own gold-medal staff.
Inspiration Beyond the Games
The Olympic spirit—everyone trying their hardest, striving for personal success and satisfaction, whatever place they finish in—is why we watch, at least why I do. Along with the joy of watching athletes compete at the highest level, I want to be inspired. I want to see someone keep going in spite of setbacks, recover from injury, or achieve their lifelong dream because it inspires me to do the same. Not necessarily to take up table tennis or marathons and aim for Los Angeles in 2028, but to live my life and go after my goals and dreams with the same determination. I want to bring the same perseverance, dedication, and commitment to my life. I want to remember to keep going when there are setbacks or things don’t happen as planned at work. I like watching and playing sports, in part, for inspiration and motivation. The Olympics is simply one of the most inspiring stages.
A Final Thank You and Looking Forward to Milan
There were so many amazing moments throughout that I cannot possibly mention or do justice to all who participated, and everyone involved for entertaining and inspiring me yet again. A simple thank you will have to suffice. Thank you to the athletes, their families, the many coaches, trainers, teams of supporters, and the thousands of workers and volunteers who brought this amazing, inspiring spectacle to us all for the past two weeks! Italy and a new group of incredible athletes are ready to inspire us at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan. I can’t wait!