2024-08-12 02:30:02
The United States won a total of 126 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, 35 more than the next nation. After edging China in total gold medals in Tokyo, 39-38, the two powerhouse nations will each bring 40 golds home from France.
Team USA rounded out its haul with 44 silver medals (up from 41 in Tokyo) and 42 bronze (up from 33). The 126-medal mark represents the United States’ third highest medal total at a single Games, and most since 1984 when the U.S. earned 174 medals in Los Angeles.
It’s the eighth consecutive Summer Olympics that the United States has won the overall medal count.
It took until the final medal event of the Paris Olympics to lock in the gilded ladder. China held a 40-39 gold medal advantage over the U.S. entering the women’s basketball gold medal game with France. A nail-biting victory delivered the U.S. team’s 61st consecutive Olympic victory and eighth straight gold. Now, the United States and China will share the top rung on the summer side until LA 2028.
China leveraged its excellence in a handful of sports to buoy its gold medal total. The Asian nation won all eight gold medals in diving along with five each in table tennis, weightlifting and shooting.
American dominance was on display in track and field (14 golds) and swimming (eight golds). Team USA also won three golds in gymnastics and cycling and two each basketball, fencing and wrestling.
The United States achieved greatness in Paris on the strength of its powerful female contingent. Only seven athletes will make the international flight home with at least four medals or at least three golds — all are women. Gymnast Simone Biles brings home four medals, three gold. In the pool, Torri Huske hoarded five medals, three gold. Regan Smith scored five medals, two gold. Katie Ledecky landed four medals, two gold. Kate Douglass donned four medals, two gold. Gretchen Walsh won four medals, two gold. And sprinter Gabby Thomas totaled three medals, all gold, becoming the first American woman to win three track and field gold medals since Allyson Felix.
There were plenty of highlights for smaller nations, too. Four countries and five delegations won their first ever medal in Paris. Cape Verde (boxing bronze for David De Pina), Dominica (triple jump gold for Thea LaFond), Saint Lucia (100m gold for Julien Alfred, then silver in 200m), and Albania (wrestling bronze for Chermen Valiev) were all adorned for the first time. And Cindy Ngamba won boxing bronze, the first medal for an athlete representing the Refugee Olympic Team.
