Paris 2024 Olympics - Taekwondo - Men -80kg Victory Ceremony - Grand Palais, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Gold medallist Firas Katoussi of Tunisia celebrates with his medal. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYSource: REUTERS
The 2024 Paris Olympics Games was definitely a stage for the strong and brave.
Athletes from all over the world gathered to prove their strength in their respective sports and to claim the gold. The global event brought into play some fascinating dynamics.
The games saw countries like China dominating with an impressive 40 gold medals. Meanwhile, nations like Kenya continued their tradition of excellence, particularly in long-distance running.
Others like Ireland also made a mark with some standout wins. What was truly inspiring, though, was seeing smaller islands like Saint Lucia shine, proving that even the smallest nations can achieve greatness on the global stage.
In all the ultimate goal was the ‘gold’, the prize that made people world champions and within the global south, there were a remarkably large number of nations that proved they’ve got their game on.
Here is a list of countries within the global south that won gold medals.
People’s Republic of China – 40
Paris 2024 Olympics - Rhythmic Gymnastics - Group All-Around Final - Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France - August 10, 2024. Gold medalists team People's Republic of China celebrate on the podium. REUTERS/Mike BlakeSource: REUTERS
Spain – 5
Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Athletes of Spain take part in the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Albert GeaSource: REUTERS
Kenya – 4
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's 1500m Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 10, 2024. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya celebrates after winning gold with Susan Lokayo Ejore of Kenya. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYSource: REUTERS
Ireland – 4
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Sophie Becker of Ireland, Phil Healy of Ireland, Sharlene Mawdsley of Ireland and Kelly McGrory of Ireland reacts after finishing in third place in heat 2. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierSource: REUTERS
Brazil – 3
Paris 2024 Olympics - Artistic Gymnastics - Women's Floor Exercise Victory Ceremony - Bercy Arena, Paris, France - August 05, 2024. Gold medallist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Simone Biles of United States and bronze medallist Jordan Chiles of United States. REUTERS/Hannah MckaySource: REUTERS
Islamic Republic of Iran – 3
Paris 2024 Olympics - Taekwondo - Men +80kg Victory Ceremony - Grand Palais, Paris, France - August 10, 2024. Gold medallist Arian Salimi of Iran reacts during the victory ceremony. REUTERS/Tingshu WangSource: REUTERS
Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Leon Marchand of France holds the Olympic flame as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and athletes Teddy Riner of France, Mijain Lopez Nunez of Cuba, Yingsha Sun of China, Djankeu Ngamba of Refugee Olympic Team, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and Emma McKeon of Australia look on. REUTERS/Andy ChuaSource: REUTERS
Bahrain – 2
Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Athletes of Bahrain walk during the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Andy ChuaSource: REUTERS
Chinese Taipei – 2
Paris 2024 Olympics - Badminton - Men's Doubles Gold Medal Match - Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France - August 04, 2024. Supporters can be seen holding Chinese Taipei Olympic flags in the stands during the gold medal match. REUTERS/Ann WangSource: REUTERS
Hong Kong, China – 2
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Members of the delegation of Hong Kong, China attend the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. Lui Siu Wai/Pool via REUTERSSource: Pool
Philippines – 2
Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, who won gold medals in men's floor exercise and men's vault at the Olympics, greets students during his arrival from the Paris 2024 Olympics, at the Villamor Air Base, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Marie DavidSource: REUTERS
Algeria – 2
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won the gold medal in the women's welterweight boxing at the Olympics, stands next to Algeria's French-born Kaylia Nemour, who won the gold medal in asymmetric bars at the Paris Games, upon their arrival at the airport in Algiers, Algeria August 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ramzi BoudinaSource: REUTERS
Ecuador – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 20km Race Walk Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 02, 2024. Gold medallist Brian Daniel Pintado of Ecuador poses on the podium with silver medallist Caio Bonfim of Brazil and bronze medallist Alvaro Martin of Spain. REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachSource: REUTERS
Jamaica – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Discus Throw Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 08, 2024. Gold medallist Roje Stona of Jamaica celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania and bronze medallist Matthew Denny of Australia. REUTERS/Aleksandra SzmigielSource: REUTERS
Paris 2024 Olympics - Weightlifting - Men's 73kg Victory Ceremony - South Paris Arena 6, Paris, France - August 08, 2024. Gold medallist Rizki Juniansyah of Indonesia, silver medallist Weeraphon Wichuma of Thailand and bronze medallist Bozhidar Dimitrov Andreev of Bulgaria look on during the national anthem. REUTERS/Amanda PerobelliSource: REUTERS
South Africa – 1
South African supporters welcome back swimmer and gold medalist Tatjana Smith as she returns from the Paris 2024 Olympics, at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Alet PretoriusSource: REUTERS
Thailand – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Taekwondo - Women -49kg Victory Ceremony - Grand Palais, Paris, France - August 07, 2024. Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand celebrates on the podium after winning the Gold medal with Silver medallist Qing Guo of China and Bronze medallists Lena Stojkovic of Croatia and Mobina Nematzadeh of Iran. REUTERS/Tingshu WangSource: REUTERS
Ethiopia – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Marathon Victory Ceremony - Invalides, Paris, France - August 10, 2024. Gold medallist Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia, silver medallist Bashir Abdi of Belgium and bronze medallist Benson Kipruto of Kenya pose for a selfie with their medals. REUTERS/Isabel InfantesSource: REUTERS
Argentina – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - BMX Freestyle - Men's Park Victory Ceremony - La Concorde 2, Paris, France - July 31, 2024. Silver medallist Kieran Darren David Reilly of Britain takes a selfie with gold medallist Jose Torres Gil of Argentina and bronze medallist Anthony Jeanjean of France. REUTERS/Esa AlexanderSource: REUTERS
Egypt – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Modern Pentathlon - Men's Victory Ceremony - Chateau de Versailles, Versailles, France - August 10, 2024. Gold medallist Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt stands for his national anthem on the podium with silver medallist Taishu Sato of Japan and bronze medallist Giorgio Malan of Italy. REUTERS/Zohra BensemraSource: REUTERS
Tunisia – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Taekwondo - Men -80kg Victory Ceremony - Grand Palais, Paris, France - August 09, 2024. Silver medallist Mehran Barkhordari of Iran, Gold medallist Firas Katoussi of Tunisia, Bronze medallist Simone Alessio of Italy and Bronze Medallist Edi Hrnic of Denmark celebrate on the podium after winning. REUTERS/Tingshu WangSource: REUTERS
Botswana – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 200m Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Gold medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana reacts. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSource: REUTERS
Paris 2024 Olympics - Shooting - Skeet Women's Victory Ceremony - Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France - August 04, 2024. Silver medallist Amber Jo Rutter of Britain calebrates next to Gold medallist Francisca Crovetto Chadid of Chile REUTERS/Amr AlfikySource: REUTERS
Saint Lucia – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's 100m Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 04, 2024. Gold medallist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Sha'carri Richardson of United States and bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson of United States. REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachSource: REUTERS
Uganda – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 10,000m Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 03, 2024. Gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda poses on the podium with silver medallist Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia and bronze medallist Grant Fisher of United States. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSource: REUTERS
Dominican Republic – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's 400m Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Gold medallist Marileidy Paulino of Dominican Republic celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain and bronze medallist Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland. REUTERS/Alina SmutkoSource: REUTERS
Guatemala – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Shooting - Trap Women's Victory Ceremony - Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Deols, France - July 31, 2024. Silver medallist Silvana Maria Stanco of Italy, Gold medallist Adriana Ruano Oliva of Guatemala, and Bronze medallist Penny Smith of Australia pose with their medals. REUTERS/Amr AlfikySource: REUTERS
Morocco – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 3000m Steeplechase Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 08, 2024. Gold medallist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrates with silver medallist Kenneth Rooks of United States and bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya. REUTERS/Aleksandra SzmigielSource: REUTERS
Dominica – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Triple Jump Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 04, 2024. Gold medallist Thea Lafond of Dominica celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica and bronze medallist Jasmine Moore of United States. REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachSource: REUTERS
Pakistan – 1
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan celebrates with his medal on the podium with Silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of India and Bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada REUTERS/Alina SmutkoSource: REUTERS
