U.S. takes home most medals, ties China for Olympic gold

The 2024 Olympic Games ended Sunday with the United States taking home 126 medals. American athletes won 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze medals. China secured 40 gold medals, 27 silver, and 24 bronze—for a total of 91. Japan received the third-highest number of awards with 45 total medals.

What were some of the key wins for American athletes? The U.S. men’s basketball team won gold for the fifth time in a row, while the women’s team secured its eighth consecutive gold. American swimmers secured over two dozen medals, including eight gold. U.S. track and field competitors won nearly three dozen medals. The women’s soccer team brought home its fifth Olympic gold medal, while the women’s gymnastics team won the team gold and the men’s gymnastics team won the bronze.

Have any medals been contested? U.S. Olympic officials on Sunday appealed a ruling by the International Olympic Committee that American gymnast Jordan Chiles should return her bronze medal from the floor event. Officials on Saturday found that an appeal filed by Chiles’ coach that moved her from fifth place to third place had been filed after a time limit. The IOC on Sunday said Chiles should turn her medal over to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.

Meanwhile, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif on Friday won gold in the women’s competition. The International Boxing Association in 2023 disqualified Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting after the IBA said they did not meet the eligibility requirements to compete as women. The IBA President Umar Kremlev told Russian media that the fighters carried male XY chromosomes.

What happened at the closing ceremonies? Musicians from California including Billie Eilish, Snoop Dog, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the ceremony as part of Paris’ handover of the games to Los Angeles. The city will host the competition in 2028, which will mark Los Angeles’ third time holding the games and its first time hosting the Paralympics.

Dig deeper: Read Bethel McGrew’s column in World Opinions about athletes at the Olympics professing their faith in Jesus.