Leaping over waves, vaulting to glory: Athleticism is on display in photos from the 2024 Paris Olympics opening weekend

Yahoo News Photo Staff
Yang Wang of Slovakia playing table tennis.
Yang Wang of Slovakia in action in men's singles table tennis against Chuqin Wang of China on July 28. (Paul Childs/Reuters) (REUTERS)

The opening weekend of the 2024 Paris Olympics is in the books, and the Games are now in full swing. United States Olympic legends such as swimmer Katie Ledecky — who won bronze in the 400m Freestyle — and gymnast Simone Biles have already competed and are slated to continue their respective chases for more gold medals.

Biles, who suffered from the “Twisties” — a condition that interrupts the mind-body connection for a gymnast while in the air — in 2021, also experienced a calf injury in the early stages of the 2024 Olympics. However, she is still expected to be in the lineup for all four events in the team final portion for the United States on Tuesday night.

Over 200 countries are represented at this year’s Olympics, and more than 1,000 medals are up for grabs. As of Monday afternoon, Japan is in the gold lead with six gold medals, and the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China are in the second with five gold medals, while France and Australia are rounding out the top five. The U.S., which has historically finished the Olympics with the most total medals, is currently in sixth place when it comes to gold medals, but is at the top of the leaderboard for overall medals with 17 so far, half of which are silvers.

Competitions for Olympic sports, like surfing and skateboarding, are also underway. So far, Americans Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston have taken home the silver and bronze medals in men’s street skateboarding, respectively, while Japan’s Yuto Horigome won gold in the event.

The Olympic Games will run for the next two weeks and finish on Aug. 11. The next Summer Olympics will take place in 2028 in Los Angeles, marking the third time the city will play host to the Games.

Brazil's Filipe Toledo exits the barrel surfing in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti.
Brazil's Filipe Toledo exits the barrel during the 2024 Olympic Games, in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti. (Jerome Brouillet/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)
Simone Biles of United States in action on the balance beam during the women's qualification round on July 28.
Simone Biles of United States in action on the balance beam during the women's qualification round on July 28. (Hannah Mckay/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Canada's Stephen Timothy Maar serving during the men's preliminary round volleyball match between Slovenia and Canada.
Canada's Stephen Timothy Maar serving during the men's preliminary round volleyball match between Slovenia and Canada. (Sebastien Berda/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)
The semi-submerged face, including cap and goggles, of Jiayu Xu of China during the men's 100m backstroke heats.
Jiayu Xu of China in action during the men's 100m backstroke heats. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Trinity Rodman of United States in action with Felicitas Rauch of Germany a soccer match in Marseille.
Trinity Rodman of United States in action with Felicitas Rauch of Germany a soccer match in Marseille. (Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters) (REUTERS)
A half dozen boats in action during the men's skiff sailing competition in Marseille.
Sailing athletes in action during the men's skiff competition in Marseille. (Andrew Boyers/Reuters) (REUTERS)
The hand of Konstantin Kharkov of Croatia passes the water polo ball against Montenegro in St. Denis.
Konstantin Kharkov of Croatia in action against Montenegro during a men's water polo round in St. Denis. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) (REUTERS)
An overview of the ring shows Algeria's Dounia Khelif in red fighting against Serbia's Natalia Shadrina in the women's 60kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match.
An overview shows Algeria's Dounia Khelif in red fighting against Serbia's Natalia Shadrina in the women's 60kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte, on July 29. (Pool via AFP via Getty Images) (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Gymnast Ruoteng Xiao of China in action and upside down on the vault.
Ruoteng Xiao of China in action on the vault during the artistic gymnastics men's qualification round in Paris. (Mike Blake/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Summer McIntosh of Canada viewed from below during the Women's 400m individual medley swimming heats.
Summer McIntosh of Canada during the Women's 400m individual medley swimming heats on July 29. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) (REUTERS)
The hands and a foot of Alexa Moreno of Mexico as she falls from the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification round.
Alexa Moreno of Mexico falls from the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification round. (Amanda Perobelli/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Fencer Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt leaps in celebration after winning his bronze medal in men's epee individual.
Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt celebrates after winning his bronze medal bout against Tibor Ferenc Andrasfi of Hungary for fencing: men's epee individual. (Maye-E Wong/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Kimberley Woods of Britain on the water reacts with her paddle after competing in women's kayak single finals during the canoe slalom in Vaires-sur-Marne.
Kimberley Woods of Britain after competing in women's kayak single finals during the canoe slalom in Vaires-sur-Marne. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP) (AP)
The manicured hand of Manika Batra of India holding a ball during a women's singles table tennis match.
Manika Batra of India in action during her round of 64 women's singles table tennis match against Anna Hursey of Britain. (Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters) (REUTERS)
Seen from below, in the pool, Mollie O'Callaghan, right, of Australia, and Barbora Seemanova, of the Czech Republic, compete in the women's 200-meter freestyle in Nanterre, France.
Mollie O'Callaghan, right, of Australia, and Barbora Seemanova, of the Czech Republic, compete in the women's 200-meter freestyle in Nanterre, France. (David J. Phillip/AP) (AP)
The head of Lilia Cosman, of Romania, facing downward at the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round.
Lilia Cosman, of Romania, competes on the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round. (Abbie Parr/AP) (AP)
Simone Biles, of United States, performs on the vault during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round.
Simone Biles, of United States, performs on the vault during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round. (Morry Gash/AP) (AP)
Coco Gauff of United States celebrates her victory over Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia during the women's singles tennis competition.
Coco Gauff of United States celebrates her victory over Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia during the women's singles tennis competition. (Manu Fernandez/AP) (AP)
Seen from overhead, U.S. fencer Lee Kiefer competes with Italy's Alice Volpi, top, in the women's individual foil semifinal match.
U.S. fencer Lee Kiefer competes with Italy's Alice Volpi, top, in the women's individual foil semifinal match. (Christophe Ena/AP) (AP)
Kauli Vaast, of France, leaps over a wave during the second round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition in Teahupo'o, Tahiti.
Kauli Vaast, of France, leaps over a wave during the second round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (Gregory Bull/AP) (AP)
Andy Murray and Daniel Evans of Britain celebrate after defeating Kei Nishikori and Toro Daniel of Japan in the men's doubles tennis competition.
Andy Murray and Daniel Evans of Britain celebrate after defeating Kei Nishikori and Toro Daniel of Japan in the men's doubles tennis competition. (Andy Wong/AP) (AP)
Austria's Alexander Horst hits over the outstretched arms of Brazil's Evandro Goncalves Oliveira Junior in a beach volleyball match.
Austria's Alexander Horst hits over the outstretched arms of Brazil's Evandro Goncalves Oliveira Junior in a beach volleyball match. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP) (AP)
Hungarian fencer Liza Pusztai reacts at the end of the women's individual sabre round of 32 competition against Italy's Michela Battiston.
Hungarian fencer Liza Pusztai reacts at the end of the women's individual sabre round of 32 competition against Italy's Michela Battiston. (Andrew Medichini/AP) (AP)
China's Lian Junjie and Yang Hao compete in the men's synchronized 10m platform diving final.
China's Lian Junjie and Yang Hao compete in the men's synchronized 10m platform diving final in Saint-Denis, France. (Lee Jin-man/AP) (AP)
The feet of Daniel Wiffen, of Ireland, during a turn in a heat in the men's 800-meter freestyle.
Daniel Wiffen, of Ireland, competes during a heat in the men's 800-meter freestyle. (Bernat Armangue/AP) (AP)
Guilherme Costa of Brazil exhales water ahead of the men's 800m freestyle swimming heat.
Guilherme Costa of Brazil ahead of the men's 800m freestyle heat. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters) (REUTERS)

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