Olympic Legends Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner Ignite Paris 2024 Cauldron

French Olympic champions Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner lit the Paris 2024 cauldron during the opening ceremony. Perec, renowned for her three gold medals in athletics, and Riner, with two individual judo golds and a team gold, played a prominent role in the event alongside other sporting legends.

French Olympic champions Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner ignited the Paris 2024 Olympic cauldron on Friday during the opening ceremony. The cauldron will burn throughout the duration of the Games in the French capital.

Perec, aged 56, is celebrated for her three gold medals across two Olympiads in athletics and was the prime candidate to light the cauldron near the Louvre Museum. Riner, competing in Paris, boasts two individual judo gold medals and one team gold.

Perec, considered France's greatest Summer Olympian, clinched victory in the 400 meters at the Barcelona Games in 1992 and secured a 200-400 double four years later in Atlanta. Both Perec and Riner hail from Guadeloupe. Riner, 35, aims for a third individual gold in the +100kg category.

The duo received their torches in the Jardin des Tuileries, joined by illustrious athletes such as French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, Spain's 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, American 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, and Romanian gymnastics icon Nadia Comaneci.