On’s Olympic Stories: Dreams, Triumphs and Unforgettable Firsts 

Paris, France, August 12, 2024 - After 16 days of competition, the 2024 Paris Olympics have drawn to a close, leaving memories that will last a lifetime. For On’s 65 athletes competing at the events, a time of triumph, challenges, and history written on the grandest stage of all comes to an end. 

Six medals - one gold, one silver, and four bronze, became the symbols of the historic Olympic Games for the Swiss sportswear brand. Reflecting on these historic moments, Flavio Calligaris, Director of Athlete Strategy and Partnerships at On, captured the essence of what these past two weeks have meant: 

“Watching athletes' dreams unfold at the Olympics—winning medals, celebrating together, and lifting each other up in moments of challenge—was profoundly moving. We witnessed history with the first-ever gold medal won by an On athlete, along with our first track, marathon and tennis medals. These victories spanned a wide array of disciplines, from the exhilarating 4x 100m relay to the unforgettable 1500m, from marathon to triathlon, and the tennis court. When things didn't go as planned, as often happens in sports, we stood by our athletes with unwavering support. The highs and lows alike remind us of the resilience and spirit that define our athletes, highlighting what’s possible when we dream together. We couldn’t be prouder to accompany them on every step of the way. For a brand ​ founded less than 15 years ago, walking away from the Paris Olympics with six medals is more than we could have dreamed of, and it's only the beginning.”

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, On's presence saw a striking increase compared to that in Tokyo. The total number of 65 athletes in Paris was double that of those representing On in Tokyo, and the number of disciplines the athletes competed in also saw a rapid increase. This growth was not just in numbers but also in impact, as evidenced by the record six medals that On athletes brought home. 

A Silver Legacy

Swiss triathlete Julie Derron kicked off celebrations, winning the silver medal in the individual triathlon. Not a medal favorite, Derron surprised many by positioning herself at the head of the pack as the cycling and running sections unfolded. With less than a kilometer to go, Derron only had to give way to Frenchwoman Cassandre Beaugrand, securing the silver medal in a time of 1:55.01. This silver medal marked not just a personal victory but also a continuation of On’s triathlon legacy, following in the footsteps of Nicola Spirig, who won On’s first Olympic medal in the same event in 2016.

A Homegrown Hero’s Heartbreak ​ 

For Pierre Le Corre, the dream of Olympic glory was palpable. He competed in his home country, with the streets lined with supporters cheering him on during the triathlon and the hopes of winning a medal. He got a strong start and was in the lead pack for most of the race. As Yee (GBR) and Wild (NZL) broke away, Le Corre found himself in a battle for bronze with teammate Leo Bergere—a battle that didn’t end in his favor. With his head held high, he crossed the finish line in fourth, knowing he had given it his all. His journey continued in the mixed triathlon relay, but in a moment of bad luck, Le Corre found himself caught up in a bike crash, and despite a valiant effort to finish his leg and help his team, France finished in the unlucky fourth spot. 

Golden Redemption 

Hampered by bad luck in the individual relay, German triathlete Lisa Tertsch was out for redemption in the triathlon mixed relay. Tertsch propelled Team Germany into a solid third position with her relay portion, using a strategic swim and strength in the cycling and running legs as she handed over the baton to her teammates. Following a finish line sprint, Tertsch celebrated the gold medal win with her teammates and edged her name into On history, securing the first-ever Olympic Gold Medal for the brand. 

A Family’s Olympic Dream

Some dreams take generations to fulfill. 36 years after her father competed for Poland in the rowing competition, Iga Swiatek stepped onto the court with the weight of her family’s hopes on her shoulders. Heavily favored to win gold, Switaek played a strong tournament, ousting the likes of Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU), Dianne Parry (FRA), Xiyu Wang (CHI) and ​ Daniel Collins (USA) on her way to the semi-finals. In the semi-final, she was met by Chinese player Qinwen Zhen, who proved too strong for Swiatek that day. Despite the disappointment of not playing for gold, Swiatek gathered her strength once more to dominate the bronze medal match against Schiedlova (SVK) and win the medal that her father had dreamed about 36 years ago. Her medal is the first-ever tennis Olympic medal for Poland. 

Bright Future 

Not all Olympic dreams end in medals, but they all start with belief, as Juliette Whittaker (USA) and Mohammed Attaoui (ESP) attested to Whittaker, fresh from an outstanding collegiate season, lined up for the 800m final with a heart full of hope. She missed out on the medals, finishing seventh, but set a new personal best and laid the foundations for a bright future on the track. 

Mohammed Attaoui (ESP), an On Athletics Club Europe member and rising star in the 800m, made his mark on the games, finishing in a strong fifth place in the men’s final. Attaoui, who has had a remarkable season, made his way through his heat and semi-final and used his trademark kick in the last lap of the race, proving that he belongs to the top range of 800m runners in the world and setting a new personal best. 

From Chasing Dreams to Reality 

For Dominic Lobalu, the Olympics represented far more than just a competition; they were the culmination of a dream born from unimaginable hardship. Displaced and orphaned by the Second Sudanese Civil War, Lobalu's journey began in the heart of adversity. After clinching gold at the European Athletic Championships this year, he was invited to rejoin the Olympic Refugee Team, fulfilling his dream of competing on the world’s biggest stage. ​ His pursuit of an Olympic medal nearly ended in heartbreak during the 5000m semi-final, when a collision with fellow On athlete George Mills and French runner Hugo Hay sent him crashing to the ground. However, after a successful protest, Lobalu was reinstated for the final, where he delivered a performance full of resilience and determination, finishing a mere 0.14 seconds shy of the bronze medal.

Bronze Medals are won on a Purple Track

Yared Nuguse made history on the iconic purple track in the Stade de France, claiming On’s first-ever Olympic track medal. Competing in the highly anticipated 1500 m final, featuring the greats of Jakob Ingebrigsten and Josh Kerr, Nuguse edged his name into Olympic history as he slipped past Ingebrigsten to take home the bronze medal. 

Alexandra Burghardt (GER) added another bronze to On’s collection three days later, stepping up in the 4x100m relay. Burghardt had traveled to Paris as a reserve, not thinking she’d be competing, let alone winning a medal. An injury to her teammate after the heats meant Burghardt was lacing up her shoes in the final and for a shot at Olympic Glory, and Burghardt showed up when she had to. Running the first leg of the 4x100m relay, she put her teammates in a good position and ended the night celebrating with a Bronze medal around her neck. After winning a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the bobsleigh competition, Burghardt had long dreamed of an Olympic Summer medal.

A World-class Steeplechaser

Two years ago, Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui was eliminated in the heats of the World Championships. Last year in Budapest, he made it to the finals, finishing in 13th place. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he put his name on the big stage, finishing fourth in the 3000m Steeplechase Final and solidifying his place among the best steeplechasers in the world. Over the past season, Jhinaoui has lowered the Tunisian 3000m SC national record multiple times and did so again in the Olympic final as he crossed the finish line in 8:07.73. Jhinaoui trains at the Tuscany Camp under the guidance of Giuseppe Giambrone, who turned a run-down 18th-century villa into a training ground for elite athletes.

The Marathon of Dreams

Sometimes, a bronze medal can feel like a golden one. With just seven weeks of proper training in her legs after an injury following her victory in Boston, Hellen Obiri (KEN) found herself on the start line of the Olympic Marathon. A grueling course, with 436m of elevation, lay ahead of her and the other 90 runners. Three kilometers into the race, she stumbled, falling to the ground but picking herself up rapidly. The rest of the race was ​ far from perfect, with Obiri falling again, missing two bottle stations, and stomach problems around the 37km mark. Despite all this and the odds in the build-up to the race, Obiri only had to give way to Sifan Hassan (NED) and Tigst Assefa (ETH) to claim the first Olympic marathon medal for On. 

On Athletes Redefine National Records 

At Paris 2024, five On athletes rose to the occasion, breaking and setting new national records with remarkable performances. Sinta Vissa from Italy rewrote history with a new 1500m record that had stood for 42 years. Maia Ramsden (NZL) achieved a national record in her 1500m semi-final, while Agathe Guillemot of France set a new national mark on home soil, finishing 9th in the final. In the steeplechase, Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui (4th place) (TUN) and Alicja Konieczek (POL) also set new national records, showcasing the extraordinary heights On athletes are reaching on the world stage.

Results Overview 

Medals

Top 8 (Olympic Diploma) besides Medals:

Track

Triathlon

About On

On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.

On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.