11 Awkward, Absurd, And Even Disturbing Moments That Marked The 2024 Olympics

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The 2024 Olympics was not without its share of awkward, uncomfortable, and absolutely absurd moments. Here are 11 of them:

1. Alexis Ohanian was confused for Serena Williams’s umbrella holder.

Serena Williams in a red dress, Alexis Ohanian in a suit, and their daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. at an event. Another person stands nearby

Karwai Tang / WireImage

Fortunately, he took it in stride, jokingly calling himself “Serena’s Personal Umbrella Holder” in a subsequent Instagram post.

2. British swimmer Adam Peaty claimed the food in the Olympic Village had worms in it.

Adam Peaty is in a swimming pool, wearing goggles and a swim cap, raising his fist in celebration

Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

“The catering isn’t good enough for the level the athletes are expected to perform,” he told INews. “I like my fish and people are finding worms in the fish. It’s just not good enough. The standard, we’re looking at the best of the best in the world, and we’re feeding them not the best.”

3. People ignorantly misidentified Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting.

Defodi Images / DeFodi Images via Getty Images, Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto / Getty Images

Imane has since rightfully filed a legal complaint over the online harassment she faced, while Taiwan is reportedly planning to take legal action for the claims against Lin.

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4. There was a bunch of controversy around the Olympics opening ceremony.

Lip-syncing performers on a live CBC broadcast featuring drag queen characters in vibrant costumes and headpieces, including DJ with spiked headpiece in center

NBC

The ceremony featured a fashion show meant to interpret the Feast of Dionysus, but many Christians and conservatives wrongly thought it depicted “The Last Supper.” 

Among the critics was Candace Cameron Bure, who called out the “disgusting” performance on IG, prompting an apparent response from her Full House costar Jodie Sweetin.

5. The wrong winner was announced for the men’s 100-meter final.

Athlete wearing a mask and a Team USA jacket holds a medal

Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson was incorrectly named as the winner when it was actually USA’s Noah Lyles.

6. French Olympic pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati knocked over a crossbar with his bulge.

A pole vaulter wearing a blue athletic outfit and orange shoes is captured mid-air during a vault in a stadium filled with spectators

Kevin Voigt / Getty Images

Yep.

7. A player on Australia’s hockey team was reportedly arrested for trying to buy drugs.

8. Serena Williams claimed she was denied entry into a Paris restaurant.

Serena Williams with wavy hair and sunglasses, watches from the audience

Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP via Getty Images

The restaurant said the establishment had been fully booked at the time of her visit. “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved,” they said in a statement to Serena.

9. MyKayla Skinner famously got shaded by Simone Biles.

Olympic gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Simone Biles pose back-to-back in stylish leotards during a sporting event

Patrick Smith / Getty Images

After Team USA won at the Olympics, Simone appeared to hit back at MyKayla’s earlier comments about the team’s “work ethic” by sharing a photo of them alongside the caption, “Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions ❤️🥇🇺🇸.”

11. Finally, Jordan Chiles was stripped of her Olympic bronze medal.

A woman with long, straight hair and a thoughtful expression is seated, wearing a buttoned-up black shirt

John Nacion / Getty Images

She’s currently appealing the decision. You can read more about that here.

Did you watch the 2024 Olympics? What did you think of it? Were there any other awkward or controversial moments that happened this year or another year? Share it in the comments below.

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