After a century-long wait, the Olympic games have returned to Paris, turning the city of love into a stage where some of the world’s most devoted athletes showcase their passion, skill and relentless work. This summer, the 2024 Olympics has come back and is, once again, based in Paris, France. All the way from LeBron James to Sunisa Lee, there are hundreds of athletes from different sports and countries that have been putting all of their time and effort into these extremely competitive games.
The Olympics is a global sports event where athletes from all around the world train and participate in different sport competitions and represent their country while doing so. Qualifying for the Olympics is widely viewed as one of the most prominent accomplishments an athlete can achieve, showing the pinnacle of their dedication, skill and perseverance; these athletes also have the ability to win a bronze, silver or gold medal as a tribute to their talent.
Team United States’s athletes did much more than just qualify for the Olympics. They exceeded everyone’s expectations and ended up winning a grand total of 126 medals- 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze, all thanks to the athletes’ commitment to their sports and rigorous training.
Track & Field
Track and field is an event the USA has historically showed excellence in, and this year they showed their greatness by breaking multiple world records. After crossing the finish line, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone beat her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles, clearing them in 50.37 seconds, thus beating her old record from the 2022 Olympics by 0.28 seconds. A monumental feat for the sport, McLaughin’s performance showcases the determination which Americans displayed at the Paris Olympics that led the country and its representatives to worldwide recognition .
Another athlete who stole the show was Noah Lyles, with his show-stopping Olympic moment being in the men’s 100m. As he was racing down the track, only the Jamaican athlete Kishane Thompson ahead of him, Lyles seemed to be out-sprinted. As they crossed the finish line, both Lyles and Thompson ended with a time of 9.79 seconds. Officials unsure which of the two had won, they looked back at the tapes and Lyles was declared as the winner by five thousandths of a second, making it the closest 100m final in Olympic history.
On the other hand, Sha’carri Richardson, two-time Olympic medalist, seized her moment on the global stage and quickly became a track and field star. Despite some past setbacks, Richardson’s resilience paid off as she sprinted to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay this year, her relay team having a time of 41.78 seconds. Richardson’s teammate, Gabby Thomas, also had her practice pay off after she won three gold medals this Olympics. Thomas participated in the women’s 200m, 4×100 relay, and the 4×400 relay, dominating all of the events.
Swimming
American swimmers also made waves in the competition this summer, dominating in the pool. Katie Ledecky, a four-time Olympian, showed off her skills in the competition, giving way to the rise of her popularity among social media platforms and across the nation. Ledecky added a grand total of four medals at these Olympics- two golds, one silver and one bronze in three different swimming events, making her the fifth most decorated Olympian in history, with a grand total of 14 medals.
Alongside Ledecky, American swimmer Caeleb Dressel also showed his own dedication to the speed of the sport and ended up honoring his country with pride by winning two gold medals and one silver medal. Dressel participated in the men’s 4x100m relay, men’s 50m freestyle and the men’s 100m butterfly. A swimmer who also showed out this summer was Bobby Finke, who swam in the men’s 800m freestyle and the 1500m freestyle, swimming a new world record of 14:30.67, while also winning gold and silver in his events.
Basketball
Basketball has been a staple sport in American culture for years, and the men’s USA team currently holds 17 out of 20 of the gold medals in Olympic basketball, while the women’s USA team holds 10 out of 12. These two teams have dominated the competitions for years– the women’s team winning eight times straight. This summer both teams walked away with gold medals in hand, as a result of both having their rosters stacked up with incredibly skilled basketball players.
The women’s basketball team, composed of star players Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, Diana Taurasi and others, was able to win gold in their final game against France, ending with a close score 67 to 66 and extending their historical run. The team displayed the skill and determination that has earned them recognition as a dominant force in women’s Olympic basketball, while also showcasing the upcoming rise of women’s basketball around the world.
The men’s basketball team, showing leadership from veterans Lebron James and Stephen Curry while also having some rising stars such as Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum, ended up winning the gold medal against France with a final score of 98 to 87. One athlete that stuck out in the final game was Curry, who scored a total of 24 points on eight three-pointers. Curry scored 60 points in the last two games, the most a player has scored over a two-game span by a U.S. men’s player at the Olympics. Although France kept the score close the majority of the final game, the USA ended up winning gold by 11 points.
Gymnastics
A notable story at this summer’s olympics came from Simone Biles, who made a return to the Olympics after her mental health break at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Adding four medals onto her previous four, she was the recipient of much criticism due to her break, with many doubting whether she would perform as efficiently as years prior. The gymnast came back and proved to the critics and competitors why she is considered one of the best in her sport, showcasing off flawless routines that astonished crowds inside and outside the stadium.
Simone Biles was not the only American gymnast to shine this summer. Sunisa Lee, the 21-year-old defending all-around champion from Tokyo, also delivered impressive performances, winning three medals. Lee has become a fan-favorite amongst Americans on social media, where she posted her journey recovering from two forms of kidney disease, helping inspire next-generation athletes.
“The USA Gymnastics team did amazing at the Olympics this year. I was blown away by how they performed and they just made all the routines look effortless. It was really cool to watch and they were seriously so good,” freshman Leticia Restrepo-Fernandez said.
As it ends, Paris 2024 was largely seen as a success for Team USA, having many veteran and rising athletes show their abilities on the world stage. The USA’s achievements on the track, swimming pool, basketball court, gymnastic mats and other events have contributed to making a memorable Olympics game. The performances we watched highlighted the intense discipline and dedication that define Olympic success, leaving a significant mark on the USA’s future generation of athletes.
