Just wrapped up watching the 2024 Paris Olympics, and wow, what a rollercoaster for Team GB! We ended up with 65 medals overall, which is our third-highest haul ever. That's pretty damn impressive on paper. But here's the tea ☕: we dropped to 7th in the medal table, and our gold count was down by eight compared to Tokyo. So, was it a success or a bit of a letdown? Let's break it down, sport by sport, and give 'em some grades. Get ready for some serious analysis, my fellow sports fans!
🏃♀️ Athletics: A Decade of Progress, But So Close!
Our track and field squad was on fire this time! We bagged 10 medals, which is a MASSIVE upgrade from the measly five we got in Tokyo. Major props to superstars like Keely Hodgkinson, who absolutely stormed to gold in the 800m, proving she's the undisputed queen. Katarina Johnson-Thompson's heptathlon gold was pure class, and Georgia Bell's 1500m bronze was a beautiful surprise. Seriously, watching Keely power down that home straight was iconic. 
But honestly, the vibe is bittersweet. The 'what ifs' are haunting. Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith were both agonisingly overtaken right at the death for gold. And that botched final baton change in the women's 4x100m? Heartbreaking. We were so close to more glory.
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Highlights: Keely's dominance, KJT's resilience, a solid medal spread.
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Lowlights: Those last-second heartbreaks in multiple events.
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Overall Grade: B+
🏊♂️ Swimming: A Dip from Tokyo's Highs
Okay, let's be real. After the record-breaking 8 medals (4 golds!!) in Tokyo, coming home with only 5 (1 gold, 4 silvers) from Paris feels like a step back. The only gold came from the men's 4x200m freestyle relay squad—they were fantastic! But the individual events... oof. Adam Peaty, Ben Proud, and Matt Richards were all within a few hundredths of a second of turning silver into gold. Combined, those tiny margins could have matched Tokyo's gold haul. It's a testament to how fiercely competitive swimming is right now. 
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Star Performer: The Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay team.
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The Story: Incredible talent, but the podium's top step was just out of reach this time.
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Overall Grade: B
🚴♀️ Cycling: Is the Dynasty Over?
This one hurts a bit, ngl. We're used to British cyclists absolutely dominating. In Rio and Tokyo, we smashed 6 golds each. In Paris? Just two. Total medals were still high at 11, but the gold standard has slipped. The shining light was 21-year-old Emma Finucane—what an absolute star! She grabbed a gold and three bronzes. She's the future, and LA 2028 can't come soon enough for this squad. But for now, it feels like the era of total dominance might be over. 
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Silver Lining: Emma Finucane is a generational talent.
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Reality Check: Only 2 golds is our lowest in 20 years. A rebuilding phase is here.
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Overall Grade: C-
🚣♀️ Rowing: The PHOENIX Event of Paris!
THIS. This is how you bounce back! After the disaster of Tokyo (only 2 medals, ZERO golds), our rowers delivered the best overseas Olympic performance EVER. 3 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes. Talk about a redemption arc! Emily Craig and Imogen Grant were unstoppable in the lightweight double sculls. And can we please talk about Helen Glover? At 38, winning a silver medal? That's legendary behavior. This team turned their narrative around completely. 
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Vibe: Unqualified, massive, glorious success.
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Heroes: The entire team, but special shoutout to the legendary Helen Glover.
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Overall Grade: A
🥊 Boxing: A Genuine Nightmare
No sugar-coating it: this was a catastrophe. Out of six boxers, five lost in the opening round. Lewis Richardson's welterweight bronze was the sole bright spot in a sea of disappointment. Sure, there were some controversial split decisions and questionable judging, but the overall performance was well below the traditional high standards of British boxing. A major overhaul is needed before LA 2028. 
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The Only Positive: Lewis Richardson's bronze.
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The Hard Truth: A complete and utter failure at these Games.
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Overall Grade: F
🐎 Equestrian: Triumph Over Turmoil
The drama before the Games with Charlotte Dujardin's withdrawal could have derailed everything. Instead, the team produced our best haul since Sydney 2000! Five medals, including golds in Team Jumping and Team Eventing. To perform at that level after losing a star rider on the eve of the competition is next-level mental strength and depth. A truly impressive performance under pressure. 
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Storyline: Overcoming adversity with pure class.
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Result: Best performance in 24 years. Mic drop.
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Overall Grade: A-
🏊♂️ Diving: Making History Without Gold
The Chinese divers were, as usual, in a league of their own. But guess what? Team GB's divers didn't let that stop them! They won five medals—our biggest haul EVER in diving, even without a gold. The legend Tom Daley won his FIFTH Olympic medal (sync 10m with Noah Williams). Then, Noah Williams himself pulled out a stunning final dive (94.35 points!!) to snatch an individual bronze. Absolutely iconic moments. 
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Icon Status: Tom Daley, forever an Olympic treasure.
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Moment of Magic: Noah Williams' clutch final dive for bronze.
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Overall Grade: B+
⛵ Sailing: Lost at Sea
Ellie Aldridge's gold in kitesurfing on the final day was epic and saved the regatta from being a total washout. But let's be honest: two medals total is a major disappointment for a sport that receives huge funding. The conditions were tricky with a lack of wind, and the organisation was... questionable. But with the investment and history we have, more was expected.
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Saving Grace: Ellie Aldridge's last-day gold.
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Verdict: Underwhelming and below expectations.
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Overall Grade: D
🤸♂️ Gymnastics: A New Era Dawns
This was the emotional one. Max Whitlock's final Olympics ended without a medal, with both the men's and women's teams finishing a heartbreaking 4th. But his legacy is secure. He passed the torch to the new gen, and they delivered! Jake Jarman and Harry Hepworth both won individual bronzes. And let's not forget Bryony Page—her gold in the women's trampolining was pure joy and completed her full set of Olympic medals! A fitting end to one era and a bright start to another.
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The Sentimental Journey: Bidding farewell to Max, welcoming the new stars.
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Standout Moment: Bryony Page's golden trampoline triumph.
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Overall Grade: B
🧐 Final Verdict on Paris 2024
So, back to the big question: Success or disappointment? Honestly, it's a bit of both—a classic mixed bag.
The Good:
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Record hauls in Rowing and Diving show we can excel.
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Athletics had a massive comeback.
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New stars like Emma Finucane and Jake Jarman emerged.
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65 total medals is a huge number to be proud of.
The Not-So-Good:
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Gold medal count dropped significantly.
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Seventh in the table doesn't feel like a "top tier" finish.
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High-profile struggles in Cycling and a disaster in Boxing.
For me, it's a solid B performance. We proved our depth and resilience in many sports, but in the ruthless battle for Olympic gold, we fell just short in too many key areas. The foundation for LA 2028 is there, but work needs to start now. On to the next one, Team GB! 🇬🇧✨
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