Andy Murray

True to a career defined by epic comebacks, British tennis legend Andy Murray wasn’t ready to bow out quietly at the Paris Games. Having already announced it would be his final appearance on court, Murray found himself on the brink of a first-round doubles exit against Japan, facing five match points.

Yet, Murray and partner Dan Evans saved every one, ultimately triumphing in a thrilling tie-break, much to the delight of the electrified Roland Garros crowd. Another escape followed in the second round, before the U.S. team of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul finally ended Murray's career at age 37, as injuries took their toll.

"I am genuinely happy just now. I'm happy with how it finished," said Murray, who famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon champion, among his three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic golds. The Scot, known for his dry humor, signed off in style, posting on X shortly after leaving the court: "Never even liked tennis anyway."

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

At 37, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had already declared Paris would be her "last hurrah," expressing a desire to "make different memories" after collecting eight Olympic medals, including three golds.

Fraser-Pryce, who won back-to-back 100m Olympic titles in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, as well as a 4x100m relay gold in Tokyo, found her Paris experience disappointing. After breezing through her 100m heat in 10.92 seconds, she was absent from the semi-final, reportedly injured during the warm-up.

"It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment," she shared on Instagram. "The support of my fans, my country, and the larger community has rooted me in immense gratitude that has sustained me throughout my career," she added.

Adam Peaty

Two-time breaststroke gold medallist Adam Peaty has been a near-certain gold winner for Team GB since his emergence in 2014. After gold in Rio and Tokyo, hopes were high that the world record holder would extend his tally in Paris.

However, an electrifying 100m breaststroke final saw Peaty sharing silver, missing out on gold by a mere two hundredths of a second to Nicolo Martinenghi. Having battled mental health challenges and depression, Peaty wept as he embraced his three-year-old son, insisting they were "happy tears."

It was later revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 the day after competing. Despite this, Peaty recovered in time to compete in the 4x100m medley relay, where Britain narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth.

Simone Biles

Has the world seen the last of Simone Biles, widely hailed as the greatest gymnast of all time? Paris 2024 was billed as her "redemption tour" after the "Twisties" derailed her Tokyo performance.

Biles didn't disappoint, claiming gold in the all-around, team, and vault competitions, dazzling with her signature Yurchenko double pike, now officially named the Biles II. At 27, Biles showed signs of fatigue on her final day, stumbling on the balance beam and securing "only" a silver in the floor exercise, behind Brazil's Rebeca Andrade.

In what could symbolise a changing of the guard, Biles bowed deeply to Andrade during the medal ceremony. "I've accomplished way more than my wildest dreams not just at this Olympics but in the sport," said Biles, who boasts an astounding 41 world and Olympic medals—30 of them gold. When asked about her future, she replied: "I'm going to relax, and then more relaxing!" Still, could the lure of a home Olympics in 2028 be too tempting? "Never say never," she added, leaving the door slightly ajar.

LeBron James

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, captured his third Olympic gold as the US secured a hard-fought 98-87 victory against France. Though he lives and plays in Los Angeles for the Lakers, James will be 43 by the time the Olympics come to California in 2028.

"I can't see myself playing in LA. Although I also didn't see myself playing in Paris. Though four years from now, I can't see it," James admitted.