Team USA smashes records and wins big at Paris Olympic Games. Female athletes shine bright.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games was a stage for a plethora of athletes to perform at the highest level of excellence, and that they did. Specifically, the United States shone above with the highest count of total medals won:126. That included 42 bronze, 44 silver, and 40 gold, though China tied the U.S. for first in gold medals. Not only did the U.S. win 126 medals, but female athletes won 67 of them. This was an astronomical win for U.S. women in sports. Additionally, on a broader scale for women’s sports wins, the 2024 games were the first in Olympic history in which Team USA’s athlete’s were majority female.

The Paris Olympics were filled with many notable races, events, and athletes. America’s athletes excelled throughout the games, creating an exciting Olympics for viewers both in Paris and back home. For a start, one athlete who stood out was swimmer Katie Ledecky – known far beyond just the world of swimming, and for good reason: Ledecky shattered records and made history when she won four Olympic medals in Paris—two gold, one silver, and one bronze. This led Ledecky to become the female USA athlete with the most medals of all time, totaling 14 medals – nine of them Olympic gold – across the four Olympic games she has competed in. While winning gold, Ledecky also broke her own Olympic record in the 1500-meter freestyle, allowing her to hold all of the top 20 fastest times in the world. 

While on the topic of breaking world records, track athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone must be acknowledged. Once again, she shocked the world with her remarkable performance in the 400-meter hurdles as she broke her own world record with a time of 50.37 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone also helped to earn Team USA the gold in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, alongside Gabby Thomas, Alexis Holmes, and Shamier Little. 

McLaughlin-Levrone’s success was certainly impressive, although not entirely unexpected considering her past achievements. She does not, however, hold the title of the most surprising U.S. won-medal. The title for this would go to the women’s rugby team, who earned their first medal in history, bronze. In the third place match, the U.S. women upset the Australian women’s team in the final try of the match, managing to score the winning points in a last second full field try. The team displayed a true example of athleticism and perseverance at its highest level, earning them their place in the history books. 

The Olympics is a huge stage for so many sports and events that it is impossible to acknowledge every amazing athlete and team that performed in 2024, though there are some teams that just can’t be ignored. Among those teams is the USA women’s soccer team. Coming off of a disappointing World Cup and no Olympic gold since 2012, the team was on a mission for redemption. The team went into the tournament as favorites, and they repeatedly proved why throughout the Olympic bracket. The team plowed its way through to the final, where they earned gold once again, putting them back on top. Within this winning team was a group that shone brightest, nicknamed “Triple Trouble,” made up of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson; the trio helped to carry their team to victory, earning 10 out of the 12 goals Team USA scored in the tournament. 

One last group that simply can’t go unmentioned is the women’s 4×100-meter relay. The team was made up of Gabby Thomas, a three-time gold medalist who also dominated the 200-meter this Olympic Games; Sha’Carri Richardson, a two-time Olympic medalist who earned a silver in the 100-meter final; Melissa Jefferson, a two-time Olympic medalist who earned a bronze in the 100 meter final; and Twanisha “TT” Terry, who won her first Olympic medal in the 4×100-meter relay. The team blazed its way to gold, bringing home yet another medal for Team USA and proving just how impressive America’s female athletes truly are.

Article by Maggie McMillen