Team USA entered the day at the 2024 Paris Olympics with an athlete seeking an opportunity to cement themselves as one of the greatest of all time. The world witnessed Simone Biles rise to the task on Tuesday, now it was Katie Ledeckcky’s chance to shine in her most prolific event at these Summer Games.
With 19 total events wrapping up, Team USA did not have the most success in competition on Wednesday. However, several athletes did stand tall with an American flag draped across their shoulders as Olympic champions.
Team USA’s Ledecky Ties American Medal History
Team USA’s Katie Ledecky enters the 2024 Paris Olympics dominating the competition in a mind-numbing fashion over the last decade. On Wednesday’s 1500-meter freestyle final, Ledeceky set a new Olympic record with an endurance swim of 15:30.02 to add another heavy gold medal ribbon to the scoreboard under the United States. The win is the eighth gold medal and 12th overall medal in the swimmer’s career.
Ledecky has not lost a 1500-meter race in 15 years so the gold medal was hers to lose at the pool in Nanterre, France. Still, the American swimmer stepped up and put on a show like the G.O.A.T’s always do with more than ten seconds separating her final wall touch from the competition. Ledecky’s game plan was simple with “clean races, executing my race plan and good technique” allowing her to claim victory.
Enjoy the remaining races for Katie Ledecky over the next few days. Much like Simone Biles for the Team USA Women’s Gymnastics, the 2024 Paris Olympics could be the final stop in Ledecky’s historic Olympic career.
Medal Performances For Team USA on Wednesday
Staying in the pool, Torri Huske is the silver medalist in the Women’s 100-meter Freestyle finishing behind Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. The American swimmer finished with a 52.29 final touch behind Sjostrom’s 52.16. The 21-year-old claims her third medal (1 gold, 2 silver) of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Sticking with the water theme, Evy Leibfarth earned a bronze medal in Women’s Canoe Slalom with Australian Jessica Fox earning top honors. The two-time Olympian likely doesn’t even remember her medal-winning run but had a “good feeling on the water where I was just out there, and I was having fun, and I was enjoying the moment.” Liebfarth was the final individual to qualify for the finals on Wednesday, and the 20-year-old seized an Olympic medal with the opportunity of a lifetime.
Meanwhile, back on dry ground, Perris Benegas earned a silver medal in Women’s Freestyle BMX. A 2018 World Champion and two-time Olympian for Team USA, Benegas just missed out on the medal with a fourth-place finish in Tokyo.
United States 30 Medals Stands Alone At 2024 Paris Olympics
Team USA holds a four medal lead over France’s 26 ribbons at the end of festivities on Day 5. China currently sits in third position with 19 total medals, with Great Britain (17) and Australia (16) close behind. The United States added one gold, two silvers, and a bronze medal during the Summer Games on July 31.
The Republic of China leads the gold medal count with nine medals through Wednesday night. France sits in second place with eight wins through the first American work week at the Summer Games. The United States has claimed five gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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