2024 Olympics: 10 of the best images from Day 12 of the Paris Games

Venezuela's Robeilys Peinado competes in the women's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)

Wed, Aug 7, 2024, 8:22 p.m.·3 min read

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Before the setting came into play, the Paris Olympics were already guaranteed to be a spectacle.

The best athletes from around the world twist, contort, jump and dive in ways most of us couldn't even imagine. Mix in the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic cities in Paris and its surroundings, and it adds up to a photographer's dream.

Here are some of the best images from Day 12 of the Olympic Games on Wednesday from the track to the court to the velodrome and beyond.

Looking good and performing well on the track

The track is one of the most-watched venues in these or any Olympic Games. Athletes awarded the once-every-four-years spotlight put their best feet forward in competition — and in fashion.

TOPSHOT - Venezuela's Robeilys Peinado competes in the women's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) — Venezuela's Robeilys Peinado competes in the women's pole vault final. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Canada's Alysha Newman competes in the women's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) — Canada's Alysha Newman competes in the women's pole vault final. She finished with a bronze medal behind gold medalist Nina Kennedy (Australia) and silver medalist Katie Moon (USA). (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Czech Republic's Amalie Svabikova reacts in the women's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) — Czech Republic's Amalie Svabikova reacts after jumping in the women's pole vault final. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - US' Quincy Hall celebrates after winning the men's 400m final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) — USA's Quincy Hall celebrates after winning the men's 400m final in a thrilling comeback. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) (BEN STANSALL via Getty Images)

Women's basketball down to final four

The U.S. women won their 59th consecutive Olympic basketball game Wednesday with a victory over Nigeria to advance to a semifinal matchup against Australia. Belgium and France also advanced and will play in the other semifinal. The winners of those games will play for the gold medal as USA seeks its eighth straight Olympic championship.

TOPSHOT - An overview shows France's #12 Iliana Rupert go to the basket and score in the women's quarterfinal basketball match between Germany and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) — France's Iliana Rupert scores during Wednesday's quarterfinal win over Germany. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (ARIS MESSINIS via Getty Images)

Boxing crowns 2 champions

The boxing competition handed out medals in two weight classes on Wednesday. Cuba's Erislandy Alvarez defeated France's Sofiane Oumiha for the men's lightweight gold medal. Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay for middleweight gold.

TOPSHOT - Cuba's Erislandy Alvarez (Blue) reacts after beating France's Sofiane Oumiha in the men's 63.5kg final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP) (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Cuba's Erislandy Alvarez (R) reacts after beating France's Sofiane Oumiha in the men's lightweight boxing final. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images) (MOHD RASFAN via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay receives instructions from the coach during the break while competing against Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak (Blue) in the men's 80kg final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images) — Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay receives instructions and relief during the middleweight final against Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images) (MAURO PIMENTEL via Getty Images)

USA wins silver in artistic swimming

Thanks in part to an underwater moonwalk, USA's artistic swimming team took home the silver medal. China won gold and Spain secured bronze. The silver is USA's first medal in the event since 2004.

USA won the silver medal in artistic swimming. (Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images) (Amin Mohammad Jamali via Getty Images)

USA denied shot at volleyball gold by Poland

USA fell short of a shot at its fourth men's volleyball gold medal in the semifinals Wednesday. Poland rallied to win the last two sets of a five-set match against USA to earn a spot in the gold medal match against France on Saturday. USA will play Italy for bronze on Friday.

TOPSHOT - (L-R) Poland's #09 Wilfredo Leon Venero, Poland's #15 Jakub Kochanowski and Poland's #06 Bartosz Kurek block the ball during men's volleyball semi-final match between Poland and USA at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 7, 2024 during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images) — Poland's Wilfredo Leon Venero, Jakub Kochanowski and Bartosz Kurek block a ball against USA in Wednesday's semifinal. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images) (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA via Getty Images)

Action heats up at the velodrome

Canada was one of eight teams to compete in the men's team pursuit final on Wednesday. Australia (gold), Great Britain (silver) and Italy (bronze) finished on the podium.