Military excellence on display: Paris 2024 Day 15 recap

PARIS (FRA) - In the golden glow of Paris 2024, military athletes from CISM Member Nations continued to demonstrate their strength, discipline, and prowess on the penultimate day of competition. As the Games approach their final moments, these athletes have proven to be formidable contenders, securing a remarkable haul of medals across various disciplines.

Leading the charge for military athletes was France's Althéa Laurin, a Maréchal des Logis in the French military, who dominated the Taekwondo Women’s +67kg category. Laurin showcased her fighting spirit by defeating Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Osipova 2-0, earning the coveted gold medal and bringing glory to her nation and the military community.

Althéa Laurin (picture: Ministère des Sports)

In the boxing ring, Poland's Julia Szeremeta fought valiantly in the Women’s -57kg category, clinching the silver medal after a close bout. Ukraine’s Iryna Koliadenko, a Military Reservist, also brought home silver in Women’s Wrestling -62kg, putting up a brave fight before losing to Japan’s Sakura Motoki. In the same category, Private Bilyana Dudova from Bulgaria finished eighth.

Meanwhile, Algeria’s Sergeant Djamel Sedjati claimed bronze in the Men’s 800m Track & Field event, clocking in at 1:41.50, a mere 0.39 seconds shy of the gold.

Julia Szeremeta (picture: Centralny Wojskowy Zespół Sportowy)

Military athletes also made their mark in team sports. The Italian Rhythmic Gymnastics team, composed of Corporals Alessia Maurelli, Daniela Mogurean, Laura Paris, Agnese Duranti and Martina Centofanti, delivered an impressive performance in the Group All-Around, securing a bronze medal with a combined score of 68.100 points, just 1.7 points behind the gold medalists from China.

Brazil's Sergeant Natalia Pereira de Araujo Lima also stood out in Women's Volleyball, helping her team to a 3-1 victory over Türkiye and earning a well-deserved bronze.

Iryna Koliadenko (picture: Embassy of Ukraine)

Austria’s Jessica Pilz, an OR-4 in the Austrian military, scaled the heights in the Women's Climbing Boulder & Lead event, taking home the bronze with a total of 147.4 points. In artistic swimming, the Alexandri sisters of Austria narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in the Duet competition, while Italy's Corporal Matteo Cicinelli and Korea’s Private First-Class Seo Chang Wang placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the Men’s Modern Pentathlon.

Not all military athletes found themselves on the podium, but their performances were no less commendable. Ukrainian Military Reservist Oleh Doroshchuk achieved a personal best in the Men’s High Jump, finishing sixth with a jump of 2.31 meters. Italy’s Corporals Vladimir Aceti, Edoardo Scotti, and Alessandro Sibilio set a season-best time in the Men’s 4x400m Relay, finishing seventh with a time of 2:59.72.

Djamel Sedjati

In the Men’s Basketball event, Greece’s military contingent, including Privates Kostas Antetokounmpo, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, and Dimitris Moraitis, concluded their campaign in eighth place.

In other events, the Dominican Republic’s Cabo Yudelina Mejia Peguero placed fifth in the Women’s -81kg Weightlifting category with a score of 256, followed by Brazil’s Sergeant Laura Nascimento Amaro, who finished seventh with a score of 240.

Alessia Maurelli, Daniela Mogurean, Laura Paris, Agnese Duranti and Martina Centofanti (picture: Ministero della Difesa)

In Men’s Beach Volleyball, Brazil’s Sergeant Arthur Lanci, alongside his teammate Evandro Goncalves Oliveira Junior, secured a fifth-place finish, showcasing their resilience on the sand.

As the final day of competition approaches, the tally of medals won by military athletes stands as a testament to their dedication, resilience, and the strong bond between sportsmanship and military service. The achievements of these athletes are not just victories in their respective events but also a celebration of the shared values that unite soldiers and sportspeople across the globe.

Jessica Pilz (picture: Olympic Team Austria)

With only one day left in the Paris 2024 Olympics, military athletes have already made a significant mark, leaving a legacy of excellence that will inspire future generations.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)