The Olympic Games always bring us the most memorable moments of victory, stubbornness, and passion, but the 2024 Paris Olympics was also a goodbye to some of the greatest sports figures ever. Their parting words, given in front of the whole world, were those of heroes whose deeds would be handed down to the upcoming generations. From emotional farewells to standing ovations, their closing acts were probably the most emotional ones in their careers, for they were also the last farewell to the Olympic stage. Here’s a look at the legends who have officially closed the chapter on their illustrious careers.

Many new faces come every year, and some legends, or GOATs in their field, bid goodbye. Such stars in their respective sports deserve a mention for what they have done. The Olympics’ official Instagram page drops a list of some athletes who retired post-Olympics this year. “Olympians we said goodbye to after Paris 2024,” reads the first image of the carousel. Do you know what the caption was?

The Instagram post’s caption reads, “After competing one final time at Paris 2024, we said a final goodbye to some incredible Olympians who retired this year. 🥹 Thank you for some magnificent Olympic memories. ❤️ Good luck with the next chapters of your journey. 🤝.” Let’s learn about their achievements and last Olympics performances.

Tom Daley from Great Britain dived last time on the international stage

Thomas Robert Daley is a diver who announced his retirement after the 2024 Paris Olympics. He is also a known YouTuber and TV personality. Farewells are always tough, and so it was for Daley. Daley bid goodbye with the tears in his eyes. In an emotional interview with the BBC when he announced his retirement, he shared his thoughts: “It’s hard to talk about; it’s emotional.”

He ended with a silver medal with his partner Noah Williams at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making it five Olympic medals, including one gold and three bronze. A British diver is emotional because he won’t be diving professionally anymore but, at the same time, happy that he will get to spend time with his family.

Daley said, “I want to be with my family…and just feel a bit normal for a couple of days.” Daley has also signed up for a fashion designer course at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. He will surely be looking forward to embracing new adventures beyond the Olympics.

Emma McKeon bid goodbye to swimming

Australia’s most decorated swimmer, Mckeon, has announced her retirement after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mckeon made her debut in the Olympics in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. And with the retirement, she won 14 Olympic medals. She won six golds, three silvers, and five bronzes in just three games.

While announcing her retirement, she said, “I definitely will miss it. It has brought me a lot of great relationships and great experiences and shaped me into the person I am.” Indeed, when you are doing something for a long time and then you won’t be doing the same thing again, it is a weird feeling. But the show must go on. She further added, “I will miss the training and the racing, but I am definitely ready for the next part of my life, which I am excited for.”

Emma Jennifer McKeon started her swimming career in 2010 at the Summer Youth Olympic Games, which were held in Singapore. Her debut was nothing short of amazing; she won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter medley relay. Her forte in swimming was freestyle and butterfly. Another swimmer who got retired is Ohashi Yui from Japan.

Yui Ohashi from Japan got retired

Ohashi Yui dropped down her curtain at the age of 29 on her birthday (18th October). She became the first-ever female swimmer to represent Japan at the stage of the Olympics in 2020. She won two gold medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games—the 200m and 400m Individual Medley.

Ohashi, being the first female swimmer to appear at the Olympics, became the only Japanese in history to win more than one gold at a single Olympics. She expressed her feelings about swimming in a press conference in Tokyo; she said, “My sister started swimming first, and I followed her because I wasn’t the strongest as a kid.”

Though the 2024 Paris Olympics didn’t go well for Ohashi, she couldn’t even qualify for the 400m for the Paris trials back in March. About her journey after the Tokyo Olympics, she said, “I was anemic, I had injuries, and the three years following the Tokyo Olympics were terribly difficult. But in the end, I’m proud of myself to be sitting here and retiring with nothing but satisfaction.” 

Rafael Nadal from Spain also retired from tennis

The legend Rafael Nadal shared a heartfelt video of her retirement in which he said, “In this life, everything has a beginning and an end.” He won a total of two golds in the Olympics, and his career ended with 92 singles career titles, including 22 Grand Slams, a record 14 French Open titles, and Olympic gold at Beijing 2008.

Ahead of the Davis Cup tournament, Nadal was asked if his retirement was already planned or the outcome of his new injury. He replied, assuring that there was no new injury but the old ones, including a left foot injury, tendonitis in both knees, and recurring left shoulder issues. He said, “It’s about the things that I went through.” Another tennis legend who retired is Andy Murray from Great Britain.

Andy Murray from Great Britain says goodbye to tennis

The British tennis star announced his retirement from tennis before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics; he said that this would be his ‘last ever tennis tournament.’ He wrote a post on X, “Arrived in Paris for my last-ever tennis tournament @Olympics. Competing for 🇬🇧 has been by far the most memorable week of my career, and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time!” Murray, the only tennis player to win two Olympic singles golds, has claimed three Grand Slam titles and 43 ATP titles throughout his tennis career.

Murray bagged his first Olympic gold in the 2012 games and became the first British singles champion in 100 years. The tennis champions won a total of 3 medals in the Olympics—two gold in singles and one silver in doubles. Murray’s career came to an end in the men’s doubles at Paris 2024 when he and Dan Evans showed their signature tenacity by defending match points to win their first two meetings before falling to No. 3 seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.

Mijain Lopez from Cuba retired with five Olympic gold

Mijaín López Núñez, the most decorated wrestler, has also announced his retirement after a great wrestling career. He won his first major Greco-Roman wrestling title at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo (DOM) in the 120 kg category. His first big rival (on the global scene) was Khasan Baroyev from Russia, who defeated him in the quarterfinals of the 120 kg at Athens 2004 en route to winning the gold.

López became the first Olympic athlete in any sport to win five gold medals in the same individual event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after winning his fifth gold medal. After his triumph, he retired from wrestling by leaving his wrestling shoes in the middle of the mat.

Alyssa Naeher retired from international football

USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has also announced her retirement after her 11-year career—she won two World Cups and the Olympic gold medal. She retired at the age of 36 from international soccer. Naeher made her senior debut in 2014 and has claimed 113 caps.

Alyssa Naeher shared her feelings about her professional journey and said, “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends.” 

Belgium hockey star John-John Dohmen has also retired from international hockey

The most decorated hockey player in Belgium, John-John Dohmen, has announced his retirement from the Belgian Red Lions. Dohmen, 36, was a member of what is regarded as the “golden generation” of Belgian hockey players and made his debut for his country in 2007. He scored 63 goals and put on his hockey boots an incredible 481 times throughout his 17-year international career.

He thanked his predecessors for their “many sacrifices” and remarked that “a winner is a loser who never gives up” as he considered both the past and future generations of hockey players. Even though he is retiring from the international arena, he continues to “Continue the conquering quest” with the KHC Dragons, a hockey team headquartered in Brasschaat, in the province of Antwerp.

Mikkel Hansen also announced his retirement just before the Olympics

Mikkel Hansen, the legendary handball player from Denmark, has made an announcement to retire from the sport, thus making an exceptional career end. He announced in April via a press conference that he would be retiring from handball after the 2024 Paris Olympics. He won three medals in the Olympics, two gold and one silver. Gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2024 Paris Olympics, and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Hansen is named for his successful showings; besides, Hanes’s performance is always at its best, which is proved by his key role in the Danish team’s success in the Olympics in 2016 and their two World Championship wins without any loss in 2019, 2021, and 2023. In his retirement years, Hansen is still a muse to followers and athletes all over the world.

German tennis player Angelique Kerber has also left her professional career

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Angelique Kerber, announced her retirement a week before the Paris Olympics. Throughout her career, she won 14 singles titles on all surfaces, including three majors. Additionally, she represented Germany at the 2016 Rio Olympics and took home a silver medal in women’s singles.

Kerber posted on social media about her retirement, “The finish line. Before the Olympics begin, I can already say that I will never forget Paris 2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player.” She could not win any medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she said, “Whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart, and I’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me.”

Badminton player Zheng Siwei announced his retirement

Zheng Siwei, one of the most decorated badminton players of China, has also retired this year along with some other sports legends. Siwei is a three-time world champion and won two gold medals at the Asian Games in doubles with his partner Huang Yaqiong. He announced his retirement in November to cite a balance between career and family as he welcomes his second child (daughter).

The People’s Republic of China must be proud of him, as he took the sport to the next level. He has been honored for being the first-ever shuttler to win five mixed doubles titles at the World Tour Finals. He ended his journey with one gold and one silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in mixed doubles.

Max Whitelock from Great Britain bids goodbye to gymnastics

At the age of 31, British gymnast Max Whitlock has taken retirement after he competed in the Paris Olympics in 2024. He was not lucky enough to end the journey on a successful note, as he couldn’t get any medals and ended up fourth with his team.

Earlier he decided to announce his retirement after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but motivation to appear in the 2024 Paris Olympics stopped him from taking the decision. While retiring, Whitelock said, “My Olympic experience has been unbelievable. One of the best things is I have been in a position to inspire and encourage others to take up sport (a compliment he gets from aspiring gymnasts’ parents).” The retirement list is incomplete without a sport like rugby.

Rugby star from New Zealand, Portia Woodman Wickliffe, announced her retirement

At the age of 33, Portia Woodman Wickliffe announced her retirement after winning a second Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her team. Woodman-Wickliffe told reporters, “Yes, I’ve retired, but I did a little bit different to my wife. I specified I was retiring from the black jersey, which leaves open doors for other opportunities, and this was one of them.” 

She has retired from international rugby, with two gold and one silver at the Olympic Games team competition. She transitioned from wing to strike prop and has proved herself on the ground. In 2022, she became the first woman to score 200 tries in the Seven Series, and in May 2024, the first woman to score 250 tries. There is another in the list of rugby retirements.

Perry Baker from America also retired from Rugby 7s

American rugby legend bid goodbye to rugby on October 14, 2024, after the 2023/24 SVNS season. He is a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, has been a three-time Olympic champion, and is the second-highest all-time scorer in World 7s. Baker has a record of an astonishing 293 tries on the sevens series circuit, and he announced his retirement before the season began.

Baker said, “After an incredible 10 years representing the USA Men’s 7s program, the time has come for me to step away from the game that has shaped so much of my life. To the fans, rugby isn’t just a sport; it’s a family, and you guys made me feel that everywhere I went. And to rugby itself, thank you for teaching me resilience, teamwork, and leadership that will live with me forever.”

Nikola Karabatic retired from handball after the Paris Olympics

39-year-old Nikola Karabatic announced his retirement after the 2024 Paris Olympics but unfortunately couldn’t take the medal home. The France men’s handball competition was with Germany, and France lost to them in the quarterfinals. Karabatic won many golds, silvers, and bronzes and has become an Olympic, World, and European champion—seven titles out of 17 medals won.

About his retirement, Katabatic said, “Nostalgia will certainly come later, but right now I’d like, above all, to live this last year with you.” He secured three gold and one silver in the Olympics—gold at 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2020 Tokyo, and silver at 2016 Rio de Janeiro.

Yoon Jisu: Republic of Korea’s fencing star required at the age of 31

Daughter of retired baseball player and coach Yoon Hak-kil, she announced her retirement in 2024 after securing silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has a total of two Olympic medals—one silver and one bronze (2020 Tokyo).

Jisu has also won multiple Asian Championships from 2012 to 2019 consecutively and secured first position in 2022 at Seoul, South Korea (Asian Championship). Let us know in the comment section about your favorite athlete.