In a thrilling finale at the Bercy Arena on August 2, 2024, British gymnast Bryony Page clinched gold in the women’s trampoline event at the Paris Olympics, scoring 56.480 points. This victory completes Page’s Olympic medal set, adding to her silver from Rio 2016 and bronze from Tokyo 2020.Belarusian athlete Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya secured silver with 56.060 points, making history as the first neutral athlete to win a medal at these Games. Bardzilouskaya, 19, is one of 17 Belarusians competing under neutral status due to sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine. Canadian Sophiane Methot claimed bronze with 55.650 points.Russian gymnast Anzhela Bladceva, also competing as a neutral athlete, finished fifth with 55.020 points. Bladceva, a four-time world champion in the youth category and 2024 World Cup overall title holder, expressed deep disappointment with her performance, describing it as the ‘heaviest defeat in her life’.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics under neutral status, provided they met specific conditions, including not publicly supporting the war in Ukraine. This decision came after a two-year period during which these athletes were largely excluded from international competitions.The women’s trampoline event showcased both triumph and heartbreak, highlighting the intense pressure and high stakes of Olympic competition. As the Games continue, the performance of neutral athletes will likely remain a point of interest and discussion in the international sporting community.
Key points
- Bryony Page of Britain won gold in women’s trampoline at the Paris Olympics, completing her Olympic medal set.
- Belarusian Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, competing as a neutral athlete, won silver, marking the first medal for a neutral athlete at these Games.
- The participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions in sports.
Contradictions👾There are minor discrepancies in the spelling of athletes’ names across different sources, such as ‘Angela Bladceva’ vs ‘Anzhela Bladceva’.
👾Some sources report Sophie Marleau as the bronze medalist, while others correctly identify Sophiane Methot.
