Beginning July 26, 2024, the highly renowned Olympic games began with a bang for Team USA in Paris, France. This round of the games left Team USA with 126 medals all around — 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze. The exhilarating achievements led various first-time medalists such as Stephen Nedoroscik in awe. This year, over 65 percent of all athletes received the title of a first-time medalist. The Paris Olympics received millions of views from around the globe, with each country cheering on its acclaimed athletes.
“I like watching the Olympics because it makes me feel a sense of pride for my country and the achievements everybody has made. I watched the Olympics with my friends and family and sometimes we even have parties to come together and watch the events. I also watched the Olympics with my friends in class while we had free time,” magnet junior Keazandra-Clyne Verdeflor said.
Starting off with the USA Women’s Artistic Gymnastics team, the lineup for this season ranged from the youngest member across Team USA, Hezly Rivera, to legendary artistic gymnast, Simone Biles. The team, also recognized as “the Golden Girls,” consisted of the nation’s five greatest gymnasts, Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Rivera, building up the highest amount of diversity ever fielded in women’s gymnastics.
Biles entered the games as the oldest gymnast on the team but still managed to sweep away three gold and one silver medal — winning gold in all-around, team and vault, while her floor exercise landed her a silver medal. Not only did Biles secure multiple spots on the podium, she also gained her 11th Olympic medal. As Biles earned gold on floor, her teammate Chiles earned her spot on the podium earning bronze while Lee achieved the bronze medal in the women’s individual all-around. Overall, Team USA won a total of 10 medals across 14 events, showcasing a myriad of the world’s top artistic gymnasts of all time.
On the other hand in gymnastics, the USA Men’s Artistic Gymnastics team broke through and skillfully earned the bronze medal in the team all-around, long-awaited since the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Famously known as “Pommel Horse Guy,” Nedoroscik helped steward the team to this victory, gaining two bronze medals. Nedoroscik scored a 14.866 in the individual pommel horse final which played a memorable part in Team USA winning the first medal for men’s gymnastics in 16 years.
Dating back to the Olympic trials, track and field athlete Jasmine Moore rightfully acquired her spot in the 2024 Olympic games as the first US woman to qualify for the triple and long jump divisions in the same Olympic cycle. At the start of the finals, Moore initiated her winning streak with the first women’s triple jump medal, earning the bronze medal which led her to claim a position in the long jump finals.
Alongside her teammate, Tara Davis-Woodall, both of the athletes made the podium in the long jump finals: Woodall bringing home the gold, and Moore bringing the bronze medal. With these accolades, Moore became the second woman in Olympic history to bag medals in the triple and long jump finals both within the corresponding game.
“I think making the long jump was kind of a personal goal, and I think the triple jump was kind of expected. But it is like proving to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. If I have a goal, I can set it. If you want to do something, it is attainable,” Moore said.
Annette Echickunwoke, another member of Team USA scored the silver medal in hammer throwing, an achievement she never believed would reach. After devastating results from the Tokyo games, Echickunwoke entered the Paris Olympic trials with a determined mindset: not only to compete but to win a medal for Team USA. Rightfully, Echickunwoke was placed on the podium, proudly representing her home country.
As the Rugby Sevens women’s team rallied up onto the field to play, Team USA created historic memories. This year, the Olympic team won their first medal in USA Rugby Sevens history. The incredible team left Paris with the bronze medal, leaving their mark on French territory.
Within the realms of the USA’s men’s Olympic golf team, Scottie Scheffler brings home the men’s individual stroke play gold medal for the first time in history. While the women’s golf team did not place top three, the group left Paris ranking eighth in the world. This season, the golf team earned another great ranking long since the 2020 games.
While the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a long-awaited closing, Team USA athletes achieved superb placements within a multitude of sports. Now, Olympic fans await the 2028 games located in Los Angeles, California in hopes of seeing familiar and upcoming faces within the arena.
