Paris 2024 – Top 10 Embarrassing Moments

The Olympics threw up acts of heroism, tears, and patriotism. It also left us with many embarrassing moments to replay and enjoy. Here are ten such examples:

10: Kayak Cross Chaos

The newly introduced kayak cross event saw athletes drop from 15 feet into rapid waters. With numerous wipeouts and collisions, the chaotic races drew comparisons to “Mario Kart on water,” causing widespread laughter and memes across social media.

9: Gianmarco Tamberi’s Wedding Ring Mishap

Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi lost his wedding ring during practice, causing a frantic search before his event. The incident became a running joke among fans and commentators, adding an unexpected twist to his Olympic journey.

He apologised to his wife on Instagram, saying; “Too much water, too many kilos lost in the past few months, or maybe the uncontrollable enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three things, the fact remains that I felt it slip away, I saw it fly until I saw bouncing inside the boat.”

8: Victor Wembanyama vs. Yuki Togashi

In a basketball match, the massive height difference between 7’4″ Victor Wembanyama of France and 5’4″ Yuki Togashi of Japan led to a surreal and amusing game. The visual contrast was an instant hit on social media, spawning countless memes.

7: Simone Biles’ Balance Beam Blooper

During her beam routine, Simone Biles accidentally kicked the apparatus, causing it to wobble. Her quick recovery and the ensuing sheepish grin had both the crowd and viewers at home laughing, proving even the best can have their humiliating incidents.

6: Zhao Lijun’s Costume Malfunction

Chinese weightlifter Zhao Lijun experienced a wardrobe malfunction when his weightlifting suit tore during a lift. Though he completed the lift successfully, the incident was widely shared online, leading to plenty of good-natured ribbing from fans.

5: Chinese Relay Team’s Baton Fumbles

In both the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, the Chinese teams suffered embarrassing baton exchanges, leading to their disqualification. The mishaps were widely mocked on social media, where fans expressed their frustration and disbelief at the repeated failures. At one point, it didn’t look like they had even trained the baton handover before race day. 

4: Ailing Gu’s Airhead Moment

Freestyle skier Ailing Gu accidentally referred to her event as “skiing on the half-pipe” during an interview, forgetting the official name. The mix-up led to playful teasing on social media, with fans creating memes about her “airhead” moment.

3: Turkish Shooter’s Chilled Composure

Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec became a meme for his relaxed demeanour during the 10m air pistol event, where he shot with one hand casually in his pocket. His laid-back attitude while winning silver was a big hit online and it’s been used in many inspirational videos about keeping things simple.

2: Italian Cyclist’s Wrong Turn

An Italian cyclist made an embarrassing wrong turn during the road race, losing valuable time. The incident, which was caught on camera led to viewers not being able to believe the navigation blunder.

1: French Pole Vaulter’s Costly Crotch

French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s Olympic dreams were shattered when his private parts clipped the bar as he competed in pole vaulting. An adult entertainment company offered him a huge fee to make an appearance.

James O'Connor

James is a football analyst who writes about the tactics of the PSL and English Premier League. He holds the UEFA A coaching licence and has previously worked for several clubs in analysis roles.Twitter: https://twitter.com/footy_analysis