The 2024 Olympic Games are in full swing in Paris, with the United States leading the medal tally as they aim to top the charts once again. The Games, which started on July 26, will conclude with the closing ceremony on August 11.
China broke this winning streak in 2008 in Beijing and came close again in Tokyo, where they finished just one gold medal behind the USA. Japan and Great Britain finished third and fourth, respectively, in Tokyo.
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U.S. sprinter Quincy Hall clinched gold in the 400-meter race with a dramatic finish, and distance runner Kenneth Rooks achieved a personal best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, securing silver.
In wrestling, Sarah Hildebrandt won the second gold for Team USA by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzmán 3-0 in the 50-kilogram final. Cyclist Kristen Faulkner also claimed her second gold medal of the Games, helping Team USA win its first-ever gold in the Women’s Team Pursuit.
The U.S. men’s water polo team and the women’s basketball team have both advanced to the semifinals. However, the men’s volleyball team’s hopes for gold ended with a quarterfinal loss to Poland.
The Russian Olympic Committee, which placed fifth in Tokyo, is absent this time due to a ban related to the invasion of Ukraine. Russian athletes are competing as neutrals and their results are not included in the medal table. France, as the host nation, is expected to improve its position from eighth place with 10 gold medals in Tokyo.
Australia has surpassed its previous record of 17 gold medals from the Tokyo 2020 and Athens 2004 Games, with 18 golds so far. Skateboarder Keegan Palmer defended his gold in men’s park skateboarding, sailor Matt Wearn defended his gold in the men’s dinghy, and the team of Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy, and Kelland O’Brien won gold in the men’s team pursuit, marking Australia’s first win in this event since Athens 2004.
India has won three bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics so far. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu narrowly missed out on a bronze by just 1 kg and ended up in fourth place. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight just before the final in the 50kg category.
In athletics, Avinash Sable finished 11th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Jyothi Yarraji advanced to the repechage round of the 100-meter hurdles. The rest of the Indian athletics team faced disappointment, with Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Goswami not finishing their marathon race walk mixed relay final and Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker, Sarvesh Kushare, and Annu Rani failing to progress past the qualification rounds.
India’s table tennis team lost 3-1 to Germany in the women’s team quarter-final, ending their campaign. However, there is optimism in golf as Diksha Dagar finished the opening day in 7th place, and Aditi Ashok was 13th despite feeling fatigued from her travel.
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra will compete in the men’s javelin throw final on Thursday, aiming to secure a medal that could make him the most decorated Indian in individual Olympic sports. The Indian men’s hockey team is also striving for a second consecutive podium finish and will play Spain in the bronze medal match.
