Meet the Olympic couples competing in Paris 2024

The city of love will host most of the competitions. Olympic Games Paris 2024with sporting couples no doubt looking for iconic locations to take romantic selfies. Or maybe even bring another Olympic ring into their lives…

Pairs of athletes compete in a variety of ways – in different sports, in the same sport on different days, in a team event where they compete for different nations, or, if you are a judoka, Gabriella Willems And Christian Parlatipossibly at the same time on mats next to each other.

“After a long qualification phase together, we are happy to compete at the Olympic Games on the same day,” Belgian Willems, a five-time IJF Grand Slam medalist, told Olympics.com. “For Christian, it is his second Olympic Games and for me, it is my first after missing Tokyo due to injury.”

“We have supported each other for seven years and sharing this moment is a dream come true,” Willems said of her Italian partner Parlati, a two-time world championship medalist. “Hopefully July 31 will be a happy day full of tears of joy for both of us.”

They are not the only couple competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, in the capital known for its romance, and beyond, in cities such as Nanterre, Versailles, Marseille and even Teahupoo in Tahiti, where surfing will take place.

tennis Stars Katie Boulterfrom Team GB and Australia’s Alex De Minaur Both have suffered from sporting pain and a trip to Paris could provide relief.

De Minaur contracted COVID on the eve of his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 was unable to play, while Boulter’s defeat was a disappointment more recently when he was eliminated by his compatriot Harriet Dart in a hard-fought tie in the second round of Wimbledon.

“These are the kind of defeats that hurt a little bit. They do – I can’t put it any other way. I’m going to take advantage of it,” Boulter said afterwards, before looking ahead to the summer in France.

“The Olympics are something I have wanted to experience since I was a child. I can’t wait – I’m going to soak it all up and have a fantastic time at the Olympics.”

“A dream has come true,” said De Minaur. “I always wanted to be an Olympic participant. I am delighted that I can represent the green and gold colors in Paris.”

The first opportunity for both of them to conquer some demons will come at Roland Garros, when the Olympic tennis tournaments begin on July 27.