2024 Paris Olympics: United States maintains medal count lead, China takes lead for most gold after Day 5

Day 5 of the 2024 Paris Olympics is in the books, and there’s a new leader in gold medals. China took the top spot with a huge day as Japan moved into a tie with France for second place.

However, the United States still leads in total medal count with 30 after five days of action. The U.S. got a record-breaking performance out of Katie Ledecky on Wednesday to clinch a fifth gold medal, although there’s still a ways to go before they catch China’s nine golds.

More hardware is on the way throughout the week in Paris as the calendar flips to August and the athletic events await. Here’s where things stand after Day 5 of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2024 Paris Olympics: Medal Count after Day 5

1. People’s Republic of China: 9 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze (19 total)
3. France: 8 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze (26)
3. Japan: 8 gold, 3 sliver, 4 bronze (15)
4. Australia: 7 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze (16)
5. Great Britain: 6 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze (17)
6. Republic of Korea: 6 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze (12)
7. United States of America: 5 gold, 13 silver, 12 bronze (30)
8. Italy: 3 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze (13)
9. Canada: 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze (7)
10. Germany: 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze (6)

Ledecky left no room for doubt in the 1500m freestyle, recording an Olympics record time of 15:30.02 – more than 10 seconds faster than silver medalist Anastasiya Kirpichnikova, who clocked in at 15:40.35. With the win, Ledecky won her 12th overall medal and her eighth gold. Both of those marks tie her with fellow American Jenny Thompson in the No. 1 spot for both total medals and gold medals for women swimmers. They also both have the most gold medals for any American female Olympian.

“I’m just in awe to be here and watching Katie swim,” Thompson said on the NBC broadcast as Ledecky paddled away from the field. “She’s at a level far above me, in my mind.”

Swimming events continue Thursday with multiple events on tap. That includes the 4x200m freestyle relays, which will include Ledecky as the U.S. looks to bring home yet another gold medal. Three other swimming event finals – the women’s 200m butterfly, men’s 200m backstroke and women’s 200m backstroke – will also be on the docket for Day 6 of the 2024 Paris Olympics.