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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡
Canadian gymnast Ellie Black, 28, competed in her fourth Olympic Games in Paris, and was named the winner of the Paris 2024 Fair Play Award, by the International Fair Play Committee and the International Olympic Committee.
A three-time World Championships medal winner, Black finished fifth in the women’s All-Around at the 2016 Rio Games and sixth in Paris. But her shining moment in Paris was when she came to comfort a fallen competitor.
France, competing in the fourth subdivision (of five) in the women’s team qualifying, suffered multiple falls, including by star Melanie de Jesus dos Santos, and ended up 11th, failing to advance to the Team final, where they had been expected to contend for a medal.
Per Olympics.com:
“After competition, Black and Canadian teammate Shallon Olsen were seen comforting de Jesus dos Santos, wiping away her tears and offering extended hugs and words of encouragement, reminding people around the world of the power of the Olympic Games to united others from across the globe.”
Canada finished sixth in qualifying and Black was ninth among individual qualifiers for the women’s All-Around. Canada finished fifth in the Team final and Black was sixth in the women’s All-Around final.
The Fair Play Award is enjoying its 60th anniversary, initiated at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Black was one of five finalists, which also included World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland (FRA); Hungarian fencer Csanad Gemsi; cyclists Fariba Hashimi (AFG) and Hanna Tserakh (AIN/BLR); and German chef de mission Olaf Tabor.
The process of selection started with athletes and fans were invited to submit nominations, then a jury from the IOC and the Fair Play Committee named the five finalists. The final decision was made by public vote, which garnered tens of thousands of responses.
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