The 2024 Paris Olympics is one for the books.
After all, gifted athletes from across the globe pushed boundaries at the sporting event, surpassing yearslong records in their quest for a gold medal.
In fact, the athleticism displayed this year has been so impressive that some competitors managed to break barriers even before stepping foot at the Olympic Village.
Take American gymnast Hezly Rivera, for example, who made Team USA history when she snagged a spot on women’s gymnastics team alongside Olympic vets Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey in early July. Having turned 16 just the prior month, she became youngest athlete to represent Team USA in any sport.
Quincy Wilson also, as Team USA put it, “etched his name” in history when he made the 4x400m relay squad seven months after his 16th birthday, becoming the youngest male athlete to make the U.S. track and field team.