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Winners and Losers of Complete 2024 Paris Olympics

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David KenyonFeatured Columnist IVAugust 11, 2024

Winners and Losers of Complete 2024 Paris Olympics

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    Ilona Maher

    Ilona MaherAlex Ho/ISI Photographs/Getty Photographs

    As the joy and drama of the 2024 Summer time Olympics involves a detailed, we’re left daydreaming in regards to the reminiscences.

    The world watched United States icon Katie Ledecky within the pool but once more. We adopted the drone-flying scandal of Canadian soccer and one other U.S. relay meltdown on the monitor. We noticed Leon Marchand grow to be a famous person and USA rugby introduce the nation to the game.

    And so, a lot extra.

    The next checklist of winners and losers is subjective—and held in respect to each athlete’s capacity. These are elite rivals who earned a spot on the worldwide stage. A few of them merely wound up on the disappointing facet of outcomes.

    As you most likely anticipate, the alternatives have a heavy U.S. lean and are available from an American perspective.

Winner: Leon Marchand Does It All

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    NANTERRE, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Leon Marchand of Team France reacts after winning gold in the Men's 200m Individual Medley Final on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on August 02, 2024 in Nanterre, France (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

    Xavier Laine/Getty Photographs

    Leon Marchand’s star has arrived.

    Between being coached by Bob Bowman and this unimaginable efficiency in Paris, the French swimmer has drawn comparisons to USA legend Michael Phelps. That, nonetheless, shouldn’t be your main takeaway from Marchand’s sensational swims.

    The 22-year-old electrified the house crowd and have become solely the fourth swimmer to safe 4 particular person golds in a single Olympics. That included two golds in sooner or later, one thing not achieved since 1976.

    “That is most likely the best double I’ve ever seen within the historical past of the game,” Phelps himself stated, by the best way.

    Whereas these comparisons felt inevitable, they’re unfair to Marchand. He shouldn’t be held to Phelps’ historic customary.

    However on the 2028 Video games, Marchand—who added a bronze in a relay—would be the reigning champion within the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and each the 200m and 400m particular person medleys.

    Do not be shocked if he is eyeing a repeat in all 4—and aiming for extra.

Loser: Canada’s Drone Scandal

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    Bev Priestman

    Bev PriestmanAlex Bierens de Haan/Getty Photographs

    What an unlucky state of affairs for the gamers.

    If all studies are true—and I’ve no purpose to query them—the Canadian ladies’s soccer group was blindsided.

    New Zealand, the primary opponent for Canada, complained about drones flying above a closed observe. Within the aftermath, the Canadian Olympic Committee despatched two workers members dwelling and later suspended head coach Bev Priestman. The group was deducted six factors, as properly.

    Impressively, the reigning gold medalists went 3-0-0 in group play and nonetheless superior to the knockout spherical. Canada fell to Germany within the quarterfinals, nonetheless, shedding 4-2 in penalties after a scoreless sport.

    Competing within the Olympics is an unforgettable expertise; sadly for this Canadian group, it’s going to be for the flawed causes.

Winner: Katie Ledecky’s Legend Grows

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    US' Katie Ledecky competes in the final of the women's 800m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

    JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

    Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and Canada’s Summer time McIntosh have grow to be super rivals to Katie Ledecky within the 400m free. Titmus received a second straight gold, and McIntosh climbed into silver place in Paris.

    However the 800m and 1,500m nonetheless belong to Ledecky, who padded her already-legendary resume this summer season.

    Ledecky earned gold in her marquee distance swims, together with a silver within the 4×200 relay and bronze within the 400m free. These medals introduced her profession Olympic totals to 9 golds and 14 general, tying Ledecky for many golds by a lady. She set the data for many golds by a feminine swimmer and most golds and complete medals by an American girl.

    Oh, and she or he owns the 20 quickest instances in 1,500m historical past after setting an Olympic report and successful by 10.33 seconds in Paris.

    Her reign is probably not completed but.

Loser: U.S. Males’s Swimming

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    Caeleb Dressel

    Caeleb DresselXia Yifang/Xinhua by way of Getty Photographs

    However, nonetheless, the US males handled loads of disappointment within the pool.

    First, some context.

    Michael Phelps final competed in 2016 and earned a pair of gold medals. Ryan Murphy additionally secured two golds, Anthony Ervin snagged one and 7 extra U.S. males added a silver or bronze. For good measure, Staff USA swept the trio of relays.

    Final cycle in Tokyo, the US males collected one other six particular person golds—together with three from Caeleb Dressel—with 4 further particular person medals and two relay golds.

    Paris was unkind, nonetheless.

    Lengthy-distance specialist Bobby Finke saved the American day, setting a world report within the 1,500m free to say the lone particular person gold for U.S. males. As well as, silvers went to Finke and Nic Fink with bronzes to Luke Hobson, Ryan Murphy and Carson Foster.

    The redeeming notice is the USA males received a gold and two silvers in relays, additionally taking gold within the blended 4×100.

    Nonetheless, it was a disappointment for such a gifted group of swimmers to not safe just a few extra particular person medals.

Winner: USA Gymnastics

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    PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 30:  The United States team of Simone Biles, Jade Carey,  Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Hezly Rivera on the podium with their gold medals after the team's victory during the Artistic Gymnastics Team Final for Women at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on July 30th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

    Tim Clayton/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs

    The plain headliner was Simone Biles, who returned to the Olympic stage in emphatic style. She earned her second all-around gold—the sixth straight for the US within the competitors—additionally taking gold in vault and silver in ground train.

    However that is solely part of the USA gymnastics story.

    As the ladies’s group secured all-around gold, the bronze-winning males’s squad took a medal for the primary time since 2008.

    Along with Biles, a number of others—Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Stephen Nedoroscik—received particular person {hardware}.

    Staff USA totaled 9 gymnastics medals, bettering on the half-dozen gathered on the Tokyo Video games.

Winner: U.S. Rugby’s Epic Medal

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    Alex Sedrick

    Alex SedrickAlex Ho/ISI Photographs/Getty Photographs

    Not solely did Ilona Maher grow to be a recognizable star at these Olympics, however her teammates put collectively an epic medal win.

    Whereas taking up Australia for bronze, the U.S. ladies wanted a miracle to safe some {hardware} in rugby sevens. Australia took a late 12-7 lead and pinned the People deep. In soccer phrases, the USA wanted a 95-yard landing on the ultimate possession of the sport.

    Seems, the Aussies left the U.S. an excessive amount of time.

    NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympics

    A FINISH YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE! 😱

    ALEX SEDRICK LEADS TEAM USA TO THE FIRST-EVER OLYMPIC RUGBY SEVENS MEDAL FOR THE UNITED STATES ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME! 🥉 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1FMu9SWxDo

    Alex Sedrick—in equally gorgeous and valiant style—broke via three Australian defenders to even the rating. Her subsequent conversion gave the US an unimaginable 14-12 triumph.

    In securing the nation’s first-ever Olympic medal in rugby, Staff USA has doubtless impressed a wave of curiosity within the sport.

Loser: USA Males’s 4×100 Relay, Once more

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    PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09:  Christian Coleman of Team United States (3R) attempts to pass the baton to team mate Kenneth Bednarek (R) in the Men's 4x100m Relay Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

    Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs

    At every Summer time Video games, the US could be pegged as a medal contender within the 4×100 relay on the monitor. Nonetheless, this is a recap of the issues within the final 20 years.

    • 2008: Dropped baton throughout an change
    • 2012: Silver medalists stripped of honor as a result of doping case
    • 2016: Disqualified for passing baton outdoors of handoff zone
    • 2020: Did not make last following unhealthy change

    Undoubtedly searching for redemption in Paris, the U.S. males instantly noticed these aspirations fly away.

    The primary go between Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek was a catastrophe and finally led to disqualification. The handoff occurred outdoors of the authorized zone. Even when the change had been narrowly authorized, Staff USA completed properly outdoors of a podium spot anyway.

    Perhaps somewhat little bit of dwelling cooking in Los Angeles will treatment the nightmares of this relay for the US in 2028.

Winner: USWNT Again on High

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    Mallory Swanson

    Mallory SwansonBrad Smith/ISI/Getty Photographs

    The query was easy: What ought to we anticipate from the U.S. ladies’s nationwide group underneath new coach Emma Hayes?

    Though she was introduced by the federation in November 2023, Hayes completed the membership season with Chelsea earlier than assuming management of Staff USA. She coached her first U.S. sport in June, leaving few hours to implement her concepts prematurely of the Olympic opener in July.

    Clearly, nonetheless, it was sufficient time.

    Regardless of the compact nature of the match, Hayes not often rotated the squad. Most notably, the U.S. leaned very closely on the attacking trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson.

    Due to a powerful protection and clutch saves from Alyssa Naeher—a goalkeeping weapon—it labored completely. After rolling to a few wins within the group stage, the People clipped Japan and Germany, respectively, with 1-0 extra-time triumphs in each the quarterfinals and semifinals. Rodman and Smith offered the winners in these matches.

    Swanson then slotted dwelling the decisive tally reverse Brazil, securing this system’s first Olympic gold since 2012.

Loser: The entire Damaged Data

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    Track & Field: 2024 Summer Olympics:  Team USA Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone victorious after winning the Gold medal in the Women's  400m hurdles final at Stade de France.
Paris, France 8/8/2024 
CREDIT: Simon Bruty (Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) 
(Set Number: X164580 TK1)

    Picture by Simon Bruty/Sports activities Illustrated by way of Getty Photographs

    The data had a pleasant run.

    All throughout the Paris Video games, athletes set dozens of Olympic and world requirements. Greater than 50 event-specific marks fell.

    Staff USA accounted for 12 of them, headlined by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (WR; 400m hurdles) and Ledecky (OR; 1,500m free).

    Additionally for the US, Finke (WR; 1,500m free) lowered the world customary, and distance runner Cole Hocker (OR; 1,500m run) earned a shock gold as he penned a spot in Olympic historical past. Velocity climber Sam Watson set a world report, as properly.

    Amongst people, French star Leon Marchand held the person lead of 4 Olympic data in Paris.

    The latest world requirements will probably be challenged throughout the subsequent 4 years, however Los Angeles formally has its ORs to beat.

Winner: The Dream Redeem Staff

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    USA's #06 LeBron James (L) reacts as USA's #07 Kevin Durant (R) celebrates after scoring in the men's Gold Medal basketball match between France and USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy  Arena in Paris on August 10, 2024. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP) (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)

    DAMIEN MEYER/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

    It doesn’t matter what you label this USA basketball squad—I am a fan of “The Avengers” nickname, too—it was a dream group.

    All-time legend LeBron James, iconic shooter Stephen Curry, Olympic record-setter Kevin Durant, the checklist goes on. The stellar roster did precisely what it was assembled to perform and received gold.

    Sure, it included some drama.

    After breezing to the semifinals in opposition to Serbia, the US overcame a 17-point deficit and pulled out a nerve-wracking end to achieve the gold-medal sport. Reverse the host nation, Curry’s unconscious taking pictures within the last minutes allowed the U.S. to navigate a stingy French group in a 98-87 victory.

    And they’re golden.

    Whether or not the USA program will place a bigger emphasis on the FIBA World Cup stays a reputable query. The final two tournaments ended with underwhelming U.S. rosters not on the rostrum.

    However, as soon as once more—for the fifth straight and seventeenth time in 21 cycles—the Olympics belong to the US.

Winner: USA Basketball’s Slim Sweep

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    PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11:   The USA Women's National Team embrace after the game during the Women's Gold Medal game at the  AccorHotels Arena on August 11, 2024 in Lille, France. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

    Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

    In each 5×5 basketball finals, the US held off a late cost from France to lock up a gold.

    However the U.S. ladies actually survived a dramatic end.

    Kahleah Copper made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to provide the People a three-point lead. France rapidly pushed down the courtroom, and Gabby Williams banked in a shot on the buzzer. Sadly for her, she’d already handed the three-point line.

    So, as an alternative of a exceptional game-tying triple, Williams made a innocent two-pointer that secured Staff USA’s 67-66 victory and an eighth consecutive gold for this system.

    What a option to wrap up the Olympics.

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