The exhilarating ride that was the 2024 Paris Olympics has come to a close with the United States of America claiming 126 total medals at the Summer Games. No other nation cleared the century mark for total medals in France. To put an exclamation point on their dominance, the United States took down host-nation twice in the final days at the men’s and women’s basketball finals in a pair of thrilling contests.
Team USA and the People’s Republic of China tied at 40 wins each in the quest for most gold medals. Australia managed to hold on to third place, largely thanks to their swimming teams with 18 first-place finishes this summer. France finished with 16 victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics ending a very respectable showing on home soil.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics wrapping up on Sunday, the Olympics’ attention for the summer games shifts to the main star of these Olympics, the United States of America. Team USA home will host the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics in four short years. However, before we shift our focus, let’s take a look at the epic final weekend for Team USA.
Team USA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Overcome France
In what could be considered two of the marquee events of the final weekend, Team USA’s men’s and women’s basketball squads found themselves matched up against France in gold medal games. In both contests, the French hoopers put up a feisty fight but ultimately were denied glory thanks to their American counterparts. Team USA captured two gold medals in two games.
Team USA’s women’s basketball team continued their insane dominance with an eighth-straight gold medal following their win at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yeah, you read that right – a snowman (8) of straight golds for America in the women’s hoops competition. In a heartbreaker for the hosts, the United States outlasted France, 67-66, to extend the winning streak at the Olympics following a buzzer-beating heave from Gabby Williams that only added 2 points due to her toe on the painted 3-point arc. Kahleah Copper was electric for the US in the fourth quarter and finished with 12 points. Copper stated the story of her life is about staying ready for big moments:
“Great players show up whenever their name is called,” said Copper. “I think the story of my career is just me staying ready, the preparation meeting, the opportunity, and then just taking off from there. I think I just, I’m that player whenever my name is called, I’m going to go out there and give it all I had.”
The day before on Saturday, Team USA’s Stephen Curry was the embodiment of Copper’s statement. Curry’s fourth-quarter heroics helped the United States fend off France, 98-87. Curry finished with 24 points with LeBron James adding 14 points, 10 assists double-double helping Team USA to a top-step podium finish. James was excellent all tournament long and was rightfully named Olympics MVP. It is the fifth straight gold medal for the men in Olympic competition. The international competition is only getting stronger as Team USA will look to defend the home court in Los Angeles.
Team USA Women’s Soccer Restores Honor at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Team USA women’s soccer team endured a rocky road back to the pinnacle of the sport. It was more than a decade since the Team USA women claimed gold at the Summer Olympics. They entered the tournament on the heels of one of their worst international performances ever, yet now they leave the 2024 Paris Olympics with some additional carry-on luggage in the form of a new, shiny gold medal ribbon.
Mallary Swanson scored the only goal of the game in the 57th minute as Team USA downed Brazil, 1-0, in the gold medal finals match in France at the Parc des Princes. Swanson found netting behind the goalkeeper after receiving a fantastic through pass from Korbin Albert that shocked the Brazilian defenders. Team USA keeper Alyssa Naeher was excellent once provided a lead by her teammates to backstop the United States to their fifth women’s soccer gold medal. Emma Hayes guided her club to an undefeated record in her first tournament appearance as the head coach of Team USA. Crystal Dunn, 32, might not be available to suit up for Los Angeles 2028 but knows the squad is in good hands.
“I think we’re on this steady climb,” Crystal Dunn said. “We know winning a gold medal is obviously amazing and we’re all going to celebrate and soak this in. But there’s life after this Olympics. I think we are going to embrace where we are but I think it’s important that we realize there’s so much more that we can do, and having Emma obviously now for the long haul is going to be incredible.”
Team USA Dominated the Paris Summer Games
While it is unquestioned that Team USA won the overall medal count with their 126 ribbon haul, the question of who won the most gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics is not as clear. The race since the middle of the Summer Games was a duel between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
Americans don’t exactly like ties if you look at professional sports leagues twisting themselves into pretzels to avoid them at all costs. According to the results on the official website, Team USA is listed in position No. 1 ahead of second-place China. If there were a hypothetical tiebreaker, I would suggest Team USA’s 44-27 advantage in Silver medals for consideration.
Hypotheticals aside, it was an incredibly successful 2024 Paris Olympics for many Team USA programs. From the well-known basketball teams and gymnast squads to the unheralded weightlifters, it took a small Olympic village of its own to collect 126 total medals in France. Now, it will be fun to wait to see if they can collect more at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games with the full support of the American crowds behind them.
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