Pauline Ferrand-Prévot

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has secured her first Olympic gold medal in mountain biking during the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of her closest competitor. The 32-year-old athlete, who has a history of Olympic disappointments, including a failure to finish in Rio and a 10th place in Tokyo, expressed that her victory represents the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. Her tattoo, 'life is a joke', reflects her philosophy of balancing seriousness with humor, especially after overcoming significant injuries and setbacks. The win contributes to France's medal tally, marking a successful outing for the cycling team, though her teammate Loana Lecomte unfortunately crashed out of the race. Ferrand-Prévot's journey in competitive cycling has been marked by 14 world titles, making her one of the most decorated female cyclists globally. The overwhelming support from the crowd and the emotional celebrations following her win underscored the significance of this moment in her career.