In photos: Gravity-defying moments at the Paris Olympic Games
From surfers to gymnasts to BMX riders, these moments highlight the power of the world's top competitors.
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The 2024 Paris Olympic Games continue to deliver moments of awe-inspiring athleticism – some even seeming to challenge the laws of physics.
From the now-viral image of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina soaring above the waves after earning a near-perfect score, to Simone Biles executing a breathtaking balance beam routine, to nearly every image of BMX competitors mid-trick – these surreal moments showcase the sheer power of these athletes.
Check out our selection of standout Olympics photos below and then catch up with more moments from the 2024 Olympics in our other photo galleries here.
Rai Benjamin of Team USA competes during the Men's 400m Hurdles Final. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)Helen Louise Maroulis of United States and Hannah Fay Taylor of Canada in the 57kg Women's wrestling final. (Photo by Kadir Caliskan - United World Wrestling/Getty Images)United States middle blocker Taylor Averill serves against Italy in the men's volleyball bronze medal match on August 9, 2024. (Photo by: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports)Italy's Sofia Raffaeli performs with the ball as she competes in the rhythmic gymnastics' individual all-around qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)Noah Lyles prepares to compete in the men's 200m semi-final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images)Team Australia compete in the team acrobatic routine of the artistic swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)Tara Davis-Woodhall of the United States in action during Women's Long Jump qualification on August 6th, 2024. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)Gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Sweden sets a new world record during the Men's Pole Vault Final on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Denmark's Viktor Solmunde practices in the bowl prior to the men's park skateboarding on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)Zhu Xueying of Team People's Republic of China competes during the Trampoline Gymnastics Women's Qualification on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)France's Vahine Fierro exits a wave in the women's surfing round 3, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti, on August 1, 2024. (Photo by Jerome Brouillet/AFP via Getty Images)Brazil's Gabriel Medina reacts after getting a large wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 3 in Teahupo'o, French Polynesian, on July 29, 2024. (Photo by Jerome Brouillet/AFP via Getty Images)Iran's Ali Pakdaman (L) competes against France's Sebastien Patrice in the men's sabre team bronze medal bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)Sunisa Lee of Team USA competes on the uneven bars during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)Aaron Cummings of the USA Men's National Team and Antoine Zeghdar of the France Men's National Team leap for the ball in a Pool C match during day 1 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 24, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)The U.S.' Simone Biles competes in the balance beam event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)Netherlands' centre back #09 Larissa Nusser (R) attempts to score next to Brazil's centre back #02 Bruna de Paula during the Women's Preliminary Round Group B handball match between Netherlands and Brazil of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Paris South Arena in Paris, on August 1, 2024. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)New Zealand's defender #14 Katie Bowen (L) jump for the ball flanked by Colombia's forward #11 Catalina Usme during the women's group A football match between New Zealand and Colombia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on July 28, 2024. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)Japan's Yuta Watanabe dives for a shot in the mixed doubles badminton group stage match against Taiwan during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris on July 28, 2024. (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)France's Coline Devillard competes in the balance beam event of the artistic gymnastics women's qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)Britain's Kieran Darren David Reilly competes in the Men's Cycling BMX Freestyle Park Final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Pachoud/AFP via Getty Images)Malacchi Esdale #8 of the USA Men's National Team leaps as the team enters the pitch during a men's Pool C match between USA and Uruguay on day -1 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
