Wang Chuqin to Jakob Ingebrigtsen - Big Athletes Who Failed in Their Main Event at Paris Olympics

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The Paris 2024 Olympics were a spectacle of incredible achievements, but they also witnessed some surprising disappointments from athletes who were expected to shine.

In this article, we look at five male athletes and teams who, despite their potential, fell short of expectations on the grand stage.

World No. 1 Wang Chuqin falls to Swede

Chinese table tennis sensation Wang Chuqin entered the Paris Olympics as the World No. 1 and was a top contender for the men's singles title. However, his campaign was cut short in a shocking defeat during the first round.

The trouble began when Wang discovered that his trusted table tennis bat had been damaged, rendering it unfit for play. This unfortunate incident occurred after a photographer accidentally snapped the bat while jostling for a picture following Wang’s mixed doubles gold medal win.

The disruption seemed to have a profound effect on Wang’s game as he subsequently lost 4-2 to Sweden’s 26th-ranked Truls Moregard in the round of 32. For a player of Wang's calibre, the early exit was a major disappointment. However, he did bag two gold medals in men's and mixed team events while individual success alluded him in Paris.

Belgium Men’s Hockey Team shoots blank

Belgium's men's hockey team had an impressive run at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but their campaign ended in heartbreak. Belgium in particular will be disappointed with their quarter final exit, coming in as defending champions.

The Red Lions put up a great showing in the pool stage with 4 wins and a draw that had taken them to the top of the world rankings, but a loss to Spain in the quarterfinal saw them drop down to fourth. They suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Spain in the quarter-final of the men's hockey event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which ended their campaign eventually.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen – 1500m Race

Norwegian middle-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen was the favorite to win the 1500m, one of the most anticipated events of the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, in a stunning turn of events, Ingebrigtsen failed to secure a medal, finishing behind American gold medalist Cole Hocker, with Josh Kerr taking silver and Yared Nuguse clinching bronze.

Ingebrigtsen’s performance was a far cry from the expectations placed upon him, and the loss has left the talented runner haunted by the missed opportunity as he later admitted. The upset in the 1500m race was one of the biggest shocks of the Games.

4. Fiji Men’s Rugby Sevens Team

The Fiji men’s rugby sevens team arrived in Paris as the double-defending champions, having won all 17 of their previous Olympic matches. They were the hot favorites to clinch a third consecutive gold medal. However, in a stunning upset, host nation France halted Fiji’s winning streak, securing a 28-7 victory in the final.

Antoine Dupont, who had taken a sabbatical from the national XV team to join the Sevens project, was instrumental in France’s triumph. Although Dupont played for only seven minutes, his impact was immense, setting up the try that put France ahead and scoring two himself. For Fiji, the loss marked the end of an era and a major disappointment in their Olympic campaign.