As many people are aware, the 30th Summer Olympic Games were held this year in Paris, France. Since the summer Olympics only

happen once every four years, it’s a major event that many people tune in to watch. A major contributor to the popularity of the Olympics is the

wide variety of sports that are included in the games. From swimming to handball, gymnastics to beach volleyball, there are sports from all over

the world drawing in millions of viewers.

According to Statistica, 37% of adults in the United States were most likely going to watch gymnastics this past summer, followed

closely in popularity by swimming with 31%. That’s just in the US alone. Popularity can fluctuate in many different countries across the globe.

Senior Hannah Mehalko also fits this statistic, saying that the sports she watched the most this summer were swimming and gymnastics. When

most people think of the Olympics, they think of watching all those amazing athletes compete and break records, and watching those records

being broken is especially exciting to people. Mehalko said “when Katie Ledecky won the 800 yard freestyle and now holds the top 20 times.”

Fan favorites like Katie Ledecky are also another reason why so many people spend hours in front of their televisions watching the games.

New records are set every year, but it’s also the heartfelt moments that make the Olympics that much more memorable. Julien Alfred

won gold in the 100m, bringing home Saint Lucia their first gold medal. Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, a Swedish pole vaulter, broke his own world

record at 6.25 meters and immediately ran to celebrate with his girlfriend. Many moments that happened during the summer games were the

ones that drew in fans, knowing people love a good heartfelt moment. Senior Nolan Sarber enjoyed watching water polo over the summer. “It

was the bronze medal water polo match between the US and Hungary. It was the first time since 2008 that the US had made the finals. The

game ended in a tie and resulted in a shootout, but the US goalie blocked the second shot, giving the US a win,” said Sarber. Emotional

moments like that are so important to the Olympics. Viewers want to see that athletes are real people too, with real emotion and reactions to

these exciting events. The 2024 Summer Olympics were important to people in many ways, through both record-breaking times and heartfelt

moments. The merger of 184 countries from across the world participating in 32 different sports is a monumental feat, one that leaves a lasting

impression for many years.