How These Female Phenomenons Have Already Dominated Expectations This Olympics  

By: Kamilyah McMiller

This first week has been full of surprises. From athletes to cross-sports fans and entertainment celebrities, the Summer Olympics is an event for anyone to enjoy. And with the venue in Paris, France, these women will be on the must-watch list for the rest of the summer. 

1.) Aya Nakamura And Her Powerful Opening Performance

So, we can all agree she is *literally* the gold medal. French pop artist Aya Nakamura took the stage this year after another highly anticipated performance at Vogue World Paris in June. Her performance included gold-studded backup dancers and sparklers, ending with the Republic guardsman. Now, that’s how you open the Olympics.

2.) Lady Gaga’s Pink Feather Posse

In her sharp heels and broadway flair, Lady Gaga also entered the opening ceremony before the inclement weather. Starting with a robe of pink feathers to white, she transitioned into four different outfits throughout the performance. Gaga ended the stage in a jazz ensemble mixed with a piano acoustic of her French tune. 

3.) Celine Dion Makes Her Remarkable Comeback 

Celine Dion was the crown jewel of the first Olympic night. After being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022, Dion wants to show the world that her singing career never left. She closed the ceremony in elegant crystallized attire and her spin on the French ensemble, “Hymne a l’amour”. 

4.) The Youngest Competitor Ever (Spoiler: She’s Only 11 Years Old) 

That’s right, this skateboarder was born in 2012. She started her love for the sport when she was only seven years old and starred in national competitions in China at 10. Now almost 12, she competes with other young women years older than her, which leads her on track for a potential medal at the games. 

5.) Swarovski x USA Gymnastics Team 

The team sparkles in their patriotic blue stars, vastly different from the previous Olympic years. Each leotard was crafted from more than 6,000 Swarovski crystals which made them worth a high market amount of $3,000 each (including four years to make!). Let’s say these are the most expensive gymnastics leotards in Olympic history, and the company, GK Elite, knew how to keep everyone’s eyes on them.  

6.) Pauline Ferrand Prevot Is The First Gold-Medalist Woman In France

She is an icon and the moment (for France). After her fourth Olympics, Pauline Ferrand Prevot finally won her gold title in the mountain biking competition. In her redemption, she acknowledges she’s retiring from the sport after years of practice. Prevot participated in London, Rio, Tokyo, and now Paris, which creates a story of dedication and to keep trying, because you could end up with a gold medal like this Olympian. 

7.) These Two U.S. Swimmers Shared Gratitude For Their Sport 

Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske finish a second before each other in the 100-meter butterfly swim relay. Instead of being rivals, gold-medalist Huske invited her silver-medal friend, Walsh onto the highest podium to share the stage. This action screams girlhood and is a memory that they will forever cherish.

8.) IIona Maher Breaks Body Image Stigmas 

While it’s normal to watch our favorite athletes on social media, IIona Maher claps back at BMI (body mass index) shamers in her comments. She said, “BMI is misleading” and is within her height and weight ratio. Maher also relates that according to her doctors, body mass is just a calculation. Many athletes in the Olympics have different body types based on their sport and other factors that deal with this. Which gives her a voice and face on spreading body positivity this Olympic year, no matter the body physique. 

9.) Sunisa Lee and Simone Biles Bounce Back For Gold 

As Lee overcomes her kidney challenges and Biles refrains her mental health, the favorite duo are back together. With their team's support, they both receive another all-around title. This led to Team USA winning gold during the team competition round (despite what the former Olympian, Mikayla Skinner had to say). 

10.) Anna Wintour’s Surprise Entry 

This was unexpected, Mrs. Vogue herself. Alongside longtime friend Baz Luhrman, they didn’t want to miss out on the action. During Wintour’s brief outing, she also took pictures with fans and embraced other celebrities such as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Which isn’t too bad for the editor-in-chief and a reason to visit the “City of Light” seems right up her persona. 

The Olympic games are still in cycle until August 15th. While this was only the first week of competitions, there are many more anticipated sports and events to come. So, don’t worry you didn’t miss all the action, and let’s hope for more dreams to be fulfilled by these female athletes, in the gleaming Paris spotlight.