Paris 2024: Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams carry Olympic Flame on a boat in final torch relay

The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony concluded with a spectacular torch relay featuring some of the world's most celebrated athletes. The final leg of the relay showcased a star-studded lineup, beginning with French football legend Zinedine Zidane, who famously led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup. 

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Paris Olympics 2024: Final torch relay

Zinedine Zidane handed the torch to Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis icon who secured 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles at the French Open, making him a fitting choice to carry the flame in Paris.

Rafael Nadal then passed the torch to Serena Williams, the American tennis superstar who has won three of her 23 major singles championships in Paris. The relay continued on a boat along the picturesque Seine River, capturing the imagination of spectators lining the Alexander III Bridge. 

Joining Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams on the boat were other legendary figures, including Carl Lewis, the retired American track star with nine Olympic gold medals, and Nadia Comaneci, the Romanian gymnast who famously scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history. 

The crowd erupted in cheers as the torch, a symbol of unity and hope, was carried by these iconic athletes. The boat journey added a unique and unforgettable element to the ceremony, celebrating the global spirit of the Games.

As the boat reached land, Rafael Nadal used the torch to ignite another held by former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, a two-time Grand Slam champion and current French Open tournament director. 

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Mauresmo then passed the flame to former NBA player Tony Parker, who, alongside Mauresmo, jogged through the rainy streets near the Louvre, symbolizing the continuation of the Olympic spirit and the shared history of these great athletes.

Mauresmo and Parker then passed the Olympic flame to a group of French para-athletes, including Nantenin Keïta, daughter of renowned Malian musician Salif Keita. The flame continued its journey through a series of handoffs involving more than a dozen French athletes, each representing the spirit and legacy of the Olympics.

Among those who received the flame was Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic champion at 100 years old. From his wheelchair, Coste handed the torch to French judo legend Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec. Together, they lit a cauldron attached to a giant balloon, which ascended into the night sky.