Chelsea Stars Shine at the 2024 Olympics

This summer, seven Chelsea stars are set to dazzle on the international stage at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Teams will begin their quest for glory today, with the first round of group stage matches kicking off at 4pm.

The excitement surrounding women’s football is palpable as our talented players take the field across various cities in France. This event not only showcases their skills but also highlights their journey in Olympic history.

Let’s flashback to London 2012, where our new head coach Sonia Bompastor and assistant Camille Abily made history. They represented France in their first-ever Olympic women’s football event, reaching the fourth place after a tough loss to Canada in the bronze medal match.

Fast forward to 2016, and Abily was back representing France at her second Olympics. Meanwhile, a number of current Chelsea players made their Olympic debut in Brazil, including the Canadian pair, Buchanan and Lawrence, as well as an Australian star.

In a memorable group stage clash, Canada faced off against Australia, with Buchanan and Lawrence coming out on top with a 2-0 victory. Both teams advanced to the knockout stage, but it was Australia that faced heartbreak, losing to Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals.

The Canadian duo enjoyed a different outcome as they went on to secure bronze after defeating Brazil in the playoff. This marked back-to-back bronze medals for Canada, having achieved the same feat in London.

Last year’s delayed Tokyo 2021 Games saw an impressive nine Chelsea players donning the colors of their respective countries. It was an unusual edition of the Olympics due to Covid-19 precautions. Athletes wore masks, followed isolation protocols, and no spectators were allowed in the stands.

Great Britain returned to compete for the first time since 2012, showcasing players like our own.. While Canada again showcased Buchanan and Lawrence, Australia was led by Kerr as they faced tough competition from the USA and Sweden.

The knockout rounds saw some thrilling matchups, with Kerr’s Matildas taking down Great Britain in the quarter-finals, before falling to Sweden in the semifinals, missing out on the gold medal match. Meanwhile, Canada advanced to the finals, challenging a strong Swedish team for the ultimate prize.

The match ended in a dramatic penalty shootout, where Canada secured their first-ever gold medal in women’s football at the Olympics. With the excitement of the upcoming Games in Paris, we eagerly await to see if our Chelsea stars can defend their title or create new Olympic stories.