A Heated Clash at the Olympics Turned Into a Spontaneous Sing-Along All Thanks to John Lennon

For many athletes, gaining the opportunity to represent their home country in the Olympics is a historic moment. The years of hard work and dedication come down to a single game, set, or match. And with the 2024 Paris Olympics welcoming athletes from all over the world to compete, the competition was simply intense, and countries like the United States appeared to dominate the medal standings. But on Friday, a heated competition found some common ground with John Lennon’s “Imagine” which helped athletes remember what was important.

With beach volleyball coming to an end, Team Brazil and Team Canada looked to snag a gold medal for their countries. And to make it better, the Eiffel Tower sat in the background as the players fought for history. But during the third set, Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson shared a heated exchange with Brazil’s Ana Patricia Silva Ramos. While all three players yelling at each other for an extended period of time, the DJ decided to help the judge out by putting on Lennon’s “Imagine.”

Videos by American Songwriter

[RELATED: Listen to Rare Version of the John Lennon Song “I’m the Greatest,” Featuring a Partial Beatles Reunion]

John Lennon Proves The Power Of Music

While returning to playing, the players heard the song and quickly changed their attitudes. Remembering what was important about the Olympic games, the teams found common ground and continued on even after Wilkerson received a yellow card.

Although fans had no idea what led to the disagreement, Wilkerson explained that the altercation happened over a misunderstanding. While acknowledging her family in the crowd, Wilkerson drew criticism from Ramos as she believed the Canada star was taunting her.

With tension at an all-time high, Lennon proved the power of music. Speaking with reporters, Wilkerson insisted, ‘We’re competitors and we are fighting for the same thing: There’s only one gold medal. Immediately after the game, it’s all love and respect. We bring out the best in each other, and I’m honored to play against this team.” She added, “What a beautiful opportunity we have to play the finals under the Eiffel Tower against the best in the world. Like, that, in of itself, is a win.”

(Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)