2024 Paris Olympics: United States continues dominant medal count run, trails China for gold into final day
With one day left, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal count is shaping up for a thrilling finish. The United States sits one behind China for the lead heading into the final day of the games on Sunday.
The U.S. got multiple big performances on Saturday, headlined by two golds in the 4×400-meter relays. On the men’s side, the Americans set a new Olympic record with a time of 2.54.43 to bring home the gold. That set the table for a dominant women’s showing in which the United States won with a time of 3:15.27 – four seconds faster than the Netherlands, which finished second.
Add in gold medals in both women’s soccer and men’s basketball, and it was a huge penultimate day for the United States. Here’s where the updated medal count stands entering Sunday’s finale.
2024 Paris Olympics: Medal Count after Day 15
1. People’s Republic of China: 39 gold, 27 silver, 24 bronze (90 total)
2. United States: 38 gold, 42 silver, 42 bronze (122)
3. Australia: 18 gold, 18 silver, 14 bronze (50)
4. Japan: 18 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze (43)
5. France: 15 gold, 23 silver, 22 bronze (60)
6. Great Britain: 14 gold, 21 silver, 27 bronze (62)
7. Netherlands: 13 gold, 7 silver, 12 bronze (32)
8. Republic of Korea: 13 gold, 8 silver, 9 bronze (30)
9. Germany: 12 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze (30)
10. Italy: 11 gold, 13 silver, 15 bronze (39)
After a slow start, the U.S. kicked it into gear thanks to huge runs from Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin to beat out Botswana for the gold. The women’s race was much different, though, as the United States’ lead looked like Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes with a huge gap between first and second place en route to the gold.
All told, the U.S. brought home three gold medals in the athletics events. Masai Russell took home the gold in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, as well, with a time of 12.33 seconds – 0.01 second faster than silver medalist Cyrena Samba-Mayela.
There was also a big match on the soccer fields Saturday morning as the United States looked to win its first gold medal since 2012. In a scoreless game, Mallory Swanson broke through in the 57th minute with a goal to put the U.S. on top 1-0. Thanks to some huge saves from Alyssa Naeher down the stretch, the Americans defeated Brazil to take the top of the podium once again.
Finally, there was the basketball game, which got off to a fast start as the U.S. and France battled it out. It came down to the final minutes, but Stephen Curry once again came through in the clutch to give the Americans the gold medal for the fifth straight Olympics.