A look at the queer highlights of the Paris 2024 Olympics

From celebratory kisses to historic wins, here are some of the best queer moments taking place at the Paris 2024 Olympics!

News . Written by Beatrice Fanucci.

Split screen of queer athletes from the Paris 2024 Olympics: Cindy Ngamba (right), Tom Daley (centre), Sha’Carri Richardson (right).
Image: Via X - @PopBase, @Che_Lingo, @sexysboys01

With a record number of LGBTQ+ athletes competing in the French capital this year, the Paris 2024 Olympics have given us plenty of queer moments that warmed our gay hearts. This year’s Olympics came to an end on August 11, when the incredible closing ceremony had all eyes on Paris.

From celebratory kisses to historic wins, it’s now time to round up some of the best queer moments taking place at the Paris 2024 Olympics!

The opening ceremony
This year, the Olympics in Paris started with a queer bang, as drag queens took centre stage at the opening ceremony. With a performance that attracted the wrath of conservatives and bigots all over the world, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Nicky Doll and other artists strutted down a long table, where they then seated to prepare for a feast.

The performance sparked outrage because many claimed that it was a parody of The Last Supper. However, the official Olympics X (formerly Twitter) account later clarified that it was a reinterpretation of the Ancient Greek myth of the God Dionysus—and a gorgeous one at that.

 

Cindy Ngamba wins first medal for Refugee Olympic Team
LGBTQ+ boxer Cindy Ngamba made history at this year’s competitions when she became the first medalist for the Refugee Olympic Team. The athlete, who was born in Cameron but escaped the country due to fears of sexuality-based persecution, secured bronze in the women’s 75kg finals.

The Refugee Olympic Team was established ahead of the Rio 2026 Games for those who have been forcibly displaced and cannot compete for their home countries, and Ngamba was the first female boxer to represent them in the Olympics.

 

Tom Daley and all his gay shenanigans
British diver Tom Daley was part of quite a few queer moments taking place at the Paris Olympics, starting from a silver medal in the men’s 10m synchronised event. The athlete won the silver together with diving partner Noah Williams, while his husband Dustin Lance Black and their kids Phoenix Rose and Robbie cheered from the crowd.

Daley started giving fans unforgettable queer moments before the Games even began, when he posted a cheeky video of himself testing out the Olympic Village’s ‘anti-sex’ beds. Jumping on the bed, the British diver proved that it was definitely sturdy enough for fun amongst athletes.

 

 

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Un post condiviso da Tom Daley (@tomdaley)

During the competitions, Daley also took the time to produce many fans’ favourite Olympic gear. At this point, Daley’s knitting hobby comes as a surprise to absolutely no one and he was regularly spotted at work in the stands this year.

He then took to Instagram to reveal the finished product, unveiling a navy-blue sweater with red and white details including Union Jacks, an Eiffel Tower and his last name on the back.

 

 

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Un post condiviso da Tom Daley (@tomdaley)

But his queerest moment at the Paris Games was undoubtedly the clip he posted showing himself and the men of Great Britain’s diving team doing a jaw-dropping dance to Charli xcx’s ‘Apple’, clad in nothing but Speedos. The video is entitled “Brat Summer Olympics” and it sent fans into a frenzy, proving that the team had one last mind-blowing performance to drop before the end of the Games.

 

 

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Un post condiviso da Tom Daley (@tomdaley)

Alice Bellandi kisses her girlfriend
Italian Judoka Alice Bellandi took home a gold medal in the 78kg division of Judo at this year’s Olympics. Following the win with one of the most heartwarming queer moments, Bellandi celebrated by kissing her girlfriend, fellow judoka Jasmine Martin.

 

Sha’Carri Richardson wins gold
Bisexual track and field sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson won gold for the US, commenting on the victory: “The moment that [I realised] that when we won, the USA ladies, it was a phenomenal feeling for all of us.”

Richardson had arrived in Paris as the reigning world champion, but had then lost to St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m final (still managing to secure silver, though). However, she didn’t settle, taking home the gold in the 4×100 relay.

 

South Korean shooter Kim Yeji
With her effortlessly cool demeanour, South Korean shooter Kim Yeji has had queer women all over the world in a chokehold since she made an appearance at the Olympics. Clips of her breaking the world record at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup went viral on social media, with some deeming the athlete the “coolest person ever”.

 

Billie Eilish at the closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of this year’s Olympic Games was an action-packed event, including Tom Cruise pulling all sorts of Mission Impossible-themed stunts to retrieve the flag and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing their iconic song ‘Can’t Stop’.

However, the absolute star of the show was queer pop star Billie Eilish, who took over the ceremony performing ‘Birds of a Feather’, from her latest album Hit Me Hard and Soft.

 

This is the end of our round-up of queer highlights at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, the fun has not come to an end, as the Paralympic Games are set to start on August 28.

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