The 2024 Paris Olympics brought together the best athletes from around the world for an exciting event. Among the many incredible performances, 11 women stood out not just for their skills but also for their beauty.
The Olympics began in July in Paris, France, where athletes from all over the world competed. The games were filled with impressive achievements and thrilling moments.
However, 11 women stood out for both their athletic talent and their undeniable beauty. From Ukrainian stars to American champions, these stunning athletes captured hearts at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
11 – Iryna Gerashchenko
Iryna Gerashchenko from Ukraine made a big impression at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a top high jumper. Not only did she showcase her amazing athletic skills, but her striking beauty also caught everyone’s eye. Iryna has become a standout figure both on and off the track.
On May 19, 2022, Iryna Gerashchenko posted a beautiful photo on Instagram. She wore a red and white blouse with a Ukrainian flag fin. Her dark, straight hair framed her face gracefully, accentuating her high cheekbones and expressive eyes. With minimal makeup, her flawless skin and natural beauty really shone through.
On March 7, 2024, Iryna Gerashchenko showed off a different side of her beauty. She wore a stunning red strapless gown with feathered details, radiating confidence and sophistication.
The bold red color beautifully contrasted with her fair skin, and the strapless design highlighted her toned shoulders and collarbones. Her makeup was more pronounced in this photo, enhancing her striking features.
10 – Gabby Thomas
Gabrielle Thomas, better known as Gabby Thomas, is a top sprinter from the United States who made a big impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Known for her impressive speed on the track, Gabby also caught attention for her striking beauty and magnetic presence.
On November 6, 2023, Gabby Thomas shared a powerful and graceful photo on Instagram to announce her partnership with New Balance. Her captivating eyes and light brown wavy hair framed her face beautifully, highlighting her radiant complexion.
In the sleek black athletic outfit, her toned physique was on full display. The crop top accentuated her well-defined abs, and the fitted shorts showcased her strong legs, perfectly blending beauty and athleticism.
9 – Apsara Sakbun
Apsara Sakbun, representing Cambodia, made her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games as a swimmer. She quickly became a fan favorite with her impressive performances in the pool and her stunning beauty.
8 – Luana Alonso
Luana Alonso, a rising swimmer from Paraguay, made her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. Competing in several swimming events, she drew attention for her impressive skills in the water and her striking beauty.
7 – Yaroslava Maguchih
Yaroslava Maguchih, from Ukraine, competed as a high jumper at the Paris 2024 Games. Renowned for her remarkable talent in the sport, Maguchih also drew global attention with her stunning beauty and graceful presence.
6 – Dina Asher-Smith
Dina Asher-Smith, from the United Kingdom, made a notable debut as a sprinter at the Paris 2024 Games. Renowned for her impressive speed and agility on the track, Asher-Smith also captivated fans with her striking beauty.
5 – Yulia Levchenko
Yulia Levchenko, representing Ukraine, competed as a high jumper at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Celebrated for her remarkable athletic talent, Levchenko also won admiration for her stunning looks and charismatic presence.
4 – Simone Biles
Simone Biles, the iconic gymnast from the United States, is widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts ever. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she dazzled not only with her outstanding athletic achievements but also with her stunning beauty and magnetic presence.
3 – Daria Bilodid
Daria Bilodid, from Ukraine, competed as a judoka at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Renowned for her exceptional skills in judo, Bilodid became a standout athlete. Her stunning beauty also captivated many spectators and added to her popularity.
2 – Suni Lee
Suni Lee, representing the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is a celebrated gymnast. As she showcased her exceptional skills on the gymnastics floor, Lee also drew global attention for her stunning beauty and vibrant personality.
1 – Alica Schmidt
Alica Schmidt, a standout track and field athlete from Germany, made waves at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Renowned for her impressive speed and dedication on the track, Schmidt also captured widespread attention with her striking beauty.
The 2024 Paris Olympics was a showcase of extraordinary talent and memorable moments. Among the athletes, 11 remarkable women stood out not only for their incredible skills but also for their striking beauty. These athletes demonstrated that strength and elegance can go hand in hand, captivating audiences around the world.
She Was a 1980s Bombshell, But Heather Thomas Faced Demons—Her Transformation at 66 Is Unbelievable!
Heather Thomas, known for her role alongside Lee Majors in *The Fall Guy*, turned 66 on September 8. She was on track for a very successful Hollywood career.
However, after the show’s finale, her mother appeared on set, and Thomas rushed to the hospital, thinking her father had an emergency. But when she arrived at the Santa Monica hospital, her family and friends told her that her father, Leon, was fine—it was her they were worried about.
This marked the start of a new chapter in the 28-year-old’s life, which would change both her personal life and career.
Read on to find out what happened to the famous 1980s pinup girl!
Heather Thomas had talent and natural beauty that compared to stars like Farrah Fawcett and Heather Locklear. She was born to be in the spotlight.
At just 14, she hosted an NBC show called *Talking with a Giant*, where she and other teens interviewed celebrities.
Wanting more, Thomas studied film and theater at UCLA, aiming to be an actor, director, and writer. Before she graduated, she appeared in a short-lived comedy series called *Co-Ed Fever* in 1979.
In 1980, Thomas, who was born in Connecticut, landed her first major role in *The Fall Guy*. She played Jody Banks, a stuntwoman and bounty hunter, alongside Lee Majors, who was famous for his role in *The Six Million Dollar Man*.
Her role made her popular, especially among male viewers, who saw her as a sex symbol. Thomas had mixed feelings about this label.
“There’s a kind of condescension that comes with it,” she told *People*. “You fit the stereotype of the blonde bimbo. But at the time, I was just having fun.”
Unfortunately, Thomas’s fun also involved drugs, a habit that began before her role as Jody Banks.
She revealed that her drug use started in sixth grade to help keep her grades up. “I was taking acid and getting straight A’s. I thought it was mind-expanding,” Thomas said.
As Heather Thomas grew older, the drugs she used also changed.
While studying at UCLA, Thomas started using cocaine. By 1981, just one year into her role on *The Fall Guy*, her drug problems got worse.
Feeling pressure to live up to her image as a sex symbol, the 5-foot-7 actress became obsessed with her weight. She began taking Lasix, a diuretic that can cause extreme tiredness.
To fight the tiredness, she used more cocaine to stay energized.
“At first, I loved the drug. I felt like I was getting a lot out of it. It kept me awake all night, and I could still work the next day,” she said, but claimed she never used it on set. “Cocaine isn’t accepted on sets. It’s no longer cool. It’s just a personal nightmare.”
However, a source close to Thomas told *People* that her drug use was hurting her career. “People knew Heather had a problem,” the source said.
Thomas’s weight dropped from 125 to 105 pounds, and she began falling asleep between scenes. She admitted, “Sometimes, I was in a mini coma.”
One day, she passed out in front of her co-star, Lee Majors. He contacted her manager, who then called her mother.
After the final episode of *The Fall Guy* was filmed, Thomas’s mother, Gladdy Ryder, showed up on set and told her that her father was in the hospital.
Thomas rushed to St. John’s Hospital, but when she arrived, she was met by her family and friends. They were there to admit her into a three-week drug rehabilitation program.
“That day was a big relief for me,” Thomas said. When she checked into detox, she had pneumonia, scarred lungs, and inflamed kidneys. “I’d been on a roller coaster, and I wanted to get off. If my family hadn’t stepped in, I probably would have kept going until I lost my job or died.”
She also said, “The doctors told me I should have been dead three years ago.”
Determined to recover, Thomas surrounded herself with people who supported her goal of staying drug-free. That’s when she met Allan Rosenthal, co-founder of Cocaine Anonymous, and married him when she was 28. They divorced in September 1986.
That same month, Thomas was hit by a car while crossing the street, leaving her with serious injuries to both legs.
After detox, divorce, and surgery to repair major damage in one of her legs, Heather Thomas returned to acting with smaller roles in TV series. She also appeared in movies like *Cyclone* in 1987 and the 1990 Canadian film *Red Blooded American Girl* with Christopher Plummer.
With her struggles behind her, Thomas started fresh in the 1990s. While working to revive her career, she married entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham in 1992. She became a stepmother to his two daughters, Kristina and Shauna, and gave birth to her only biological child, daughter India Rose, in June 2000.
Talking about her decision to step away from acting, Thomas said, “I had about 45 restraining orders, and I was on everything from a toilet seat cover to an ashtray. Then I fell in love, had two little girls, and decided to give up acting to write for a while.”
In 2017, Thomas made a brief comeback in the movie *Girltrash: All Night Long*, one of her 26 acting credits.
However, Thomas has focused mostly on writing. She said it wasn’t a lack of roles that drove her away from acting but the constant threat of stalkers invading her privacy. “One guy climbed over the fence with a knife. I had two little girls who needed raising, so that was that. Now, I think I’m old enough that people won’t bother me as much.”
Today, Thomas is also involved in activism. She has served on the boards of the Rape Foundation and the Amazon Conservation Team.
Identifying as a feminist, which some find surprising for a former sex symbol, Thomas explained how she embraced both roles.
“When I was younger, I did what people told me. But as I got older, I didn’t compromise myself. I wanted power and freedom, and my career gave me that. I don’t think being a feminist means you should be ashamed of your body,” she said.
It’s unfortunate that Heather Thomas wasn’t able to fully revive her acting career, but we’re glad she got the help she needed and is now on a lifelong journey of recovery.
The 1980s had so many great shows, and we loved watching her as Jody Banks in *The Fall Guy* alongside Lee Majors, the Six Million Dollar Man!
We’d love to hear your thoughts about Heather Thomas and her journey to recovery!
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