They have given us drama, golds and inspiration from their legendary Olympic performances. Now they are (probably) departing the stage forever, leaving golden memories.
Here are five stars who had their last Olympics in Paris.
– Andy Murray –
Befitting a career punctuated by heroic comebacks, British tennis legend Andy Murray refused to go quietly into retirement at the Paris Games.
Having already announced it would be the last time fans saw him on court, he was on the verge of a first-round doubles exit against Japan, who had five match points.
Murray and partner Dan Evans saved everyone and went on to win a thrilling tie-break, cheered on by a delirious Roland Garros crowd who could scarcely believe what they were seeing.
Another Houdini act followed in the second round before the US team of Taylor Fritz and Taylor Paul brought an end to the career of Murray, who at the age of 37 was beset with injury.
“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 winner, one of three Grand Slams and two Olympic golds.
The Scot, known for a dry sense of humour, signed off in style, writing on X a few hours after leaving the court: “Never even liked tennis anyway.”
– Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce –
Also 37, the Jamaican sprinter had already announced that Paris would be a “last hurrah”, saying that she wanted to “make different memories” after winning eight Olympic medals, three of them gold.
Fraser-Pryce won back-to-back 100m Olympic titles in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and captured a 4x100m relay gold in Tokyo for good measure.
But her Paris experience was a let-down. After coming through her 100m heat in 10.92, she was a no-show for the semi-final, reportedly
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